World's Oceans Hit Highest Temperature On Record As El Nino Grows
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: The world's oceans are hotter than ever recorded, new data suggests, as they suffer from human-caused climate change and the growing El Nino 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…
The world's oceans have reached their highest temperature ever recorded, according to new data from the European Copernicus climate change service. The average surface temperature of the planet's seas outside the polar regions surpassed 21.1C (70F) on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of 21.09C set in March 2024. This temperature is significantly higher than the average for this time of year.
The data is based on measurements from buoys, ships, and satellites, which are combined to produce a global estimate. While the current record margin is minimal and any global estimate carries uncertainties, scientists find the timing of this record-breaking event particularly noteworthy. Typically, average worldwide sea temperatures peak in March or April, corresponding to the end of summer in the southern hemisphere.
However, the oceans are already at record temperatures when the natural El Nino weather phenomenon is still far from its expected peak. Dr. Jeremy Grist, a senior research fellow at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, noted that the fact that oceans are breaking records before the peak of El Nino indicates the growing strength of this weather phenomenon.
If all conditions remain equal, the ocean temperature record could be broken again in March or April 2027.
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