Climate and sea surface trends in the Galapagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands have experienced significant climate changes, including a 0.6°C warming and increased dryness since the early 1980s, with the wet season now delayed by 20 days. While future projections suggest potential increases in precipitation (20-70%) and more extreme conditions, these may be overestimated due to limitations in capturing Eastern-Pacific ENSO dynamics. Additionally, sea surface temperatures have risen by 1.2°C over two decades, posing risks to marine ecosystems, coral health, invasive species proliferation, and human infrastructure. The study analyzed existing meteorological observations and secondary datasets to highlight the urgent need for resilient climate adaptation policies.

Paltán, H. A., Benitez, F. L., Rosero, P., Escobar-Camacho, D., Cuesta, F., & Mena, C. F. (2021). Climate and sea surface trends in the Galapagos Islands. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93870-w