{
  "id": 12781370,
  "title": "Meerestemperaturen: Rekordwarme Pazifikregion: El Niño könnte Rekorde brechen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/meerestemperaturen-rekordwarme-pazifikregion-el-nino-konnte-rekorde",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T04:00:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/forschung-innovation/meerestemperaturen-rekordwarme-pazifikregion-el-nino-koennte-rekorde-brechen/100260598.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The Niño-3.4 region, the decisive marine area for the El Niño phenomenon, is currently the warmest ever since records began, according to data from the University of Maine's \"Climate Reanalyzer\" platform. In early October, the average sea surface temperature in this region broke the 30-degree mark for the first time, 3.39 degrees above the 1991-2020 reference period average. The temperature curve rose almost continuously over the past weeks and is significantly above all previous year curves. Niño 3.4 is a geographic region in the central and eastern Pacific and a crucial climate index to measure the El Niño phenomenon. Klimaphysiker Helge Gößling from the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven stated that such a temperature had likely never been recorded since measurements began and was certainly not even further from the norm. This is now clearly an exceptional \"Super-Earthquake\" event. The strong El Niños of 1997 and 2015 were more than a full degree cooler at this time of year. Overall ocean surface temperatures were at 21.08 degrees last, also clearly above all previous year values. This temperature refers to the regions between the 60th southern and 60th northern latitude, the polar regions are excluded. It is possible that the strongest El Niño since 1950 will break new records this year. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts that surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific will rise between October and December to even new highs, and the currently extremely extreme El Niño will strengthen further, reaching its peak by December. The WMO almost certainly expects this El Niño to continue until February 2027, which could potentially make it one of the strongest since at least 1950, according to WMO chief Celeste Saulo. Above-average temperatures in many parts of the world, as well as changed precipitation, which can lead to both severe droughts and heavy rains, are likely to follow. In Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, in parts of northern South America, and in southern Africa, the risk of severe drought increases. Conversely, in the western coast of South America and parts of eastern Africa, there is an increased risk of heavy rain, floods, and landslides, and in the eastern and central Pacific for hurricanes. WMO data also confirms the enormous warming in the Niño 3.4 region: In June, the sea surface temperatures were therefore 1.6 degrees above the seasonal average, already 2.5 degrees there in August. The WMO even predicts a difference of about 3.7 degrees above the seasonal average for October to December. El Niño is a natural phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years, not caused by climate change, but can exacerbate its consequences. In the decisive marine region, warm, humid air rises, changing global wind and air currents. El Niño can release much more heat \"El Niño does not bring new heat to the planet. It releases heat that the ocean has already stored in the depths, which is why a strong El Niño event often results in one of the hottest years ever recorded, as in 2024,\" said Saulo at a forum in Bangkok. The ocean from which it draws this heat has been the warmest ever measured. There is simply more heat available to release. Gößling added: \"On average, 2027 could set a new all-time record (since measurements) similar to the strong El Niños of 1998 and 2015 that followed in their wake. Long-term, however, it is human-induced warming that will be decisive in setting new heat records. Future strong El Niño events will build on an ever higher baseline, promoting even more global temperature records.",
  "summary": "Baden im Meer ist in diesem Sommer vielerorts keine Abkühlung gewesen. Auch jetzt sind die Ozeane an vielen Stellen noch deutlich zu warm – teils sogar so warm wie nie zuvor.",
  "key_points": [
    "Niño-3.4 region records warmest sea surface temperature ever",
    "Average temperature in Niño-3.4 exceeded 30°C in early October",
    "WMO predicts El Niño could strengthen, peak by December 2027"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The current exceptional warming in the Pacific sets the stage for a potentially record-breaking El Niño event, likely to bring severe droughts, heavy rains, and extreme weather to various parts of the world.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}