The world’s oceans have reached their highest temperature ever recorded, with the average surface temperature climbing to 21.1°C on Saturday, according to the latest data

The new record is another major sign of the worsening climate crisis. More than 90% of the heat trapped by carbon dioxide released from fossil fuels is absorbed by the oceans.

Scientists warn that rising ocean temperatures can accelerate sea level rise, intensify storms and trigger marine heatwaves that damage sea life and threaten coastal livelihoods

The Northern Hemisphere has already faced record-breaking heatwaves, droughts and wildfires across Europe and North America this summer, while parts of Asia have been hit by intense rainfall and typhoons.

The latest spike in ocean temperatures is also being intensified by a rapidly developing El Niño event, which is expected to be the hottest in at least a century.

The latest spike in ocean temperatures is also being intensified by a rapidly developing El Niño event, which is expected to be the hottest in at least a century.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern that raises global temperatures and disrupts weather conditions worldwide. The current event has already been linked to low monsoon rainfall, major wildfires and increased fire risks.

What makes the latest record particularly unusual is its timing. Global sea temperatures normally peak in March and April after the Southern Hemisphere summer, where a much larger share of the world’s ocean area is located.

Dr. Samantha Burgess of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which produced the data, said the record was another clear sign that the oceans are under growing pressure.

“El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming,” she said. ..  Source