The world's oceans set a temperature record amid El Niño conditions
On August 22, the average surface temperature of the world’s oceans reached 21.1 °C, marking the highest reading on record. The new record was recorded by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Service.
The previous record was 21.09 °C and was set in March 2024. Experts attribute the current warming to both long-term climate change and the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon.
Copernicus noted that the highest ocean temperatures are usually observed in March and April, following the end of the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, the new record in August—when temperatures usually begin to decline—indicates prolonged abnormal warming.
The new figure also surpassed the previous August record—20.98 °C—set in 2023.
Scientists attribute the current situation to the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which is adding additional heat to the system. Copernicus seasonal forecasts indicate that the intensity of the phenomenon could reach levels not seen in several decades. However, researchers emphasize that this factor is occurring against the backdrop of decades of anthropogenic warming.
“This record is yet another clear sign that the ocean is under increasing stress,” said Samantha Burgess, head of the climate division at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Meanwhile, Thomas Frelicher of the University of Bern noted that “Europe’s seas are currently experiencing an alarming spike in temperatures.”
“Our data clearly show that climate change, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, is the cause of this,” he added.
The consequences of ocean warming affect both marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Warmer water increases the likelihood of marine heatwaves, which can damage coral reefs and seagrass beds, as well as affect fisheries and aquaculture.
According to Copernicus, the world’s oceans have already experienced a sharp increase in the number of marine heatwaves: the number of days with such events has more than tripled since the early 1990s.
A warmer ocean contributes to sea-level rise through the expansion of water and transfers more heat and moisture to the atmosphere, which can intensify localized precipitation and storm systems.
Another problem is that the ocean absorbs a significant portion of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans, but warmer water makes this process less efficient. As Copernicus data show, further warming could weaken one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks, which protect it from climate change.
Source: euronews.
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