<p>The previous record-holder, P. fumarii, could live at temperatures as high as 113 °C (235 °F), well above the boiling point of water. But the new microbe, for now called “Strain 121,” thrives at 121 °C and can even survive for two hours at 130 °C.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-15T03:47:55.583Z
2019-04-15T03:47:55.583Z
Dylan
<p>What are the hottest average annual temperature for life in the ocean to withstand? Particularly algae
This could include life from all points in earth history.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T19:34:37.877Z
I am thinking more about what I'm trying to ask and I think I'm asking about increased temperature which is meant to be caused by increased sunlight. I probably shouldve asked what would happen to algae and ocean life if subjected to 2-2.5 times aa much sunlight and mentioned that I was wondering about how that sunlight could increase temperature. On the other hand thats not what I'm asking and would be a different question.
user15660
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T20:34:02.263Z
Voting to close as too broad. We would have to answer this for every possible depth and current - that requires a book.
Jan Doggen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T22:18:16.177Z
I agree with JanDoggen. You have to define what do you mean with "ocean life". You mean complex ecosystems as the one we see today? Or a lonely extremophile  unicelular algae would fit the bill? If the latter, most likely @Universal_learner is right, and it would be as hot as liquid water can exist. If the former, one answer could be current temperature, as there are already some ecosystems collapsing, although it might have more to do with PH than temperature, as both are somehow linked.
Camilo Rada
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T23:42:23.883Z
It seems more broad than I intended I would think it can be limited to the photic zone when talking about depth.
user15660
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-14T23:47:11.647Z
And I am sure sea animals would have a limit like that of land animals due to enzymes. I would be fine with editing the question to only include algae.
user15660
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-15T05:45:46.110Z
i do not think this question is well formulated,the max temparature for survival is often a lot higher than the temparature where an animal can live,often the limiting factor is where can the food for the animal live.it is not very helpful to survive for a short time just to starve to death later.
trond hansen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-16T02:24:39.847Z
For algae, the limit isn't really the survivable temperature (above which they cook to death), but the temperature at which photosynthesis no longer produces enough energy for survival.  The efficiency drops off fairly rapidly above  45-55°C.  And of course if algae die off, there goes most of the oceanic food chain.
jamesqf
<oceanography><temperature><climatology><hypothetical><evolution>
What are the hottest temperatures ocean life can survive at
user15660
# What are the hottest temperatures ocean life can survive at

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-14)

What are the hottest average annual temperature for life in the ocean to withstand? Particularly algae
This could include life from all points in earth history.

**Tags:** oceanography, temperature, climatology, hypothetical, evolution

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I am thinking more about what I'm trying to ask and I think I'm asking about increased temperature which is meant to be caused by increased sunlight. I probably shouldve asked what would happen to algae and ocean life if subjected to 2-2.5 times aa much sunlight and mentioned that I was wondering about how that sunlight could increase temperature. On the other hand thats not what I'm asking and would be a different question.  
> **username_1**: Voting to close as too broad. We would have to answer this for every possible depth and current - that requires a book.  
> **username_2**: I agree with username_1. You have to define what do you mean with "ocean life". You mean complex ecosystems as the one we see today? Or a lonely extremophile  unicelular algae would fit the bill? If the latter, most likely @Universal_learner is right, and it would be as hot as liquid water can exist. If the former, one answer could be current temperature, as there are already some ecosystems collapsing, although it might have more to do with PH than temperature, as both are somehow linked.  
> **username_0**: It seems more broad than I intended I would think it can be limited to the photic zone when talking about depth.  
> **username_0**: And I am sure sea animals would have a limit like that of land animals due to enzymes. I would be fine with editing the question to only include algae.  
> **username_3**: i do not think this question is well formulated,the max temparature for survival is often a lot higher than the temparature where an animal can live,often the limiting factor is where can the food for the animal live.it is not very helpful to survive for a short time just to starve to death later.  
> **username_4**: For algae, the limit isn't really the survivable temperature (above which they cook to death), but the temperature at which photosynthesis no longer produces enough energy for survival.  The efficiency drops off fairly rapidly above  45-55°C.  And of course if algae die off, there goes most of the oceanic food chain.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-04-15. Score: 0

The previous record-holder, P. fumarii, could live at temperatures as high as 113 °C (235 °F), well above the boiling point of water. But the new microbe, for now called “Strain 121,” thrives at 121 °C and can even survive for two hours at 130 °C.


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