Highest-ever ocean temperature measured as powerful El Niño forms
Global ocean temperatures have reached record highs, driven by a combination of long-term human-induced climate change and the current El Niño weather pattern. Scientists warn that these rising temperatures threaten marine ecosystems and intensify extreme weather events globally.
Why it matters
Record ocean heat reduces the planet's ability to absorb carbon and increases the frequency of severe storms and sea-level rise, posing significant risks to coastal populations.
Scientists have recorded the highest temperature ever measured in the world’s oceans, as climate change combines with a powerful El Niño in the tropical Pacific. The global average sea-surface temperature hit a record 70 degrees on Aug. 22, according to Europe’s Earth observation agency Copernicus, which has been tracking the metric daily since 1979. The previous single-day record was measured in March 2024. “El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at Copernicus’ European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
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