World’s oceans hit hottest temperature on record in August
Global ocean surface temperatures reached a record high of 21.1C in August, a trend scientists attribute to human-driven climate change exacerbated by an intense El Niño event. This warming poses severe risks to marine ecosystems, weather patterns, and coastal communities.
Why it matters
Record-breaking ocean temperatures serve as a critical indicator of the accelerating climate crisis and the potential for increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Hotter oceans will exacerbate extreme weather, scientists warned. Hotter oceans will exacerbate extreme weather, scientists warned. Oceans World’s oceans hit hottest temperature on record in August Average sea surface temperature outside polar regions was 21.1C on Saturday, latest data finds
Prefer the Guardian on Google The world’s oceans were hotter than ever previously recorded on Saturday, according to the latest data.
The average surface temperature was 21.1C, with the rising marine heat a stark indicator of the climate crisis. More than 90% of the heat trapped by carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning enters the oceans.
Hotter oceans exacerbate the sea level rise and extreme storms that threaten billions of people, as well as driving marine heatwaves that decimate sea life and undermine coastal livelihoods, scientists warned.
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