World's oceans hit highest temperature on record as El Niño grows
Global ocean surface temperatures have reached a record high of 21.1C, driven by a combination of human-caused climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon. Scientists express concern that these temperatures are peaking well outside the typical seasonal window.
Why it matters
Record-breaking ocean heat threatens marine ecosystems and exacerbates extreme weather patterns, signaling an accelerating climate crisis.
Image source, Getty Images By Mark Poynting Climate reporter Published 27 minutes ago The world's oceans are hotter than ever recorded, new data suggests, as they suffer from human-caused climate change and the growing El Niño weather phenomenon.
The average surface temperature of the planet's seas outside the polar regions hit 21.1C (70F) on Saturday, according to figures from the European Copernicus climate change service.
That edges past the 21.09C recorded on three separate days in March 2024, and is far above average for the time of year.
Warmer oceans can have wide-reaching consequences, including supercharging extreme weather, raising sea levels and harming marine life.
"This record is another clear signal of an ocean under growing stress," said Dr Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus.
"El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming," she added.
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