{
  "id": 3091379,
  "title": "Earth is simmering in its hottest water temps on record, and that’s bad for fish and us",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/earth-is-simmering-in-its-hottest-water-temps-on-record-and-thats-bad",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T19:23:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/hottest-oceans-climate-change-el-nino-fisheries-9dd6ecf3b358a89d2b3a5468d69dbdbc"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The world's oceans reached their hottest temperatures on record this past weekend, and are expected to continue warming in the coming months, according to the European climate service Copernicus. The ocean temperatures peaked at 21.1 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday and Saturday, surpassing the previous record set in March 2024, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead for Copernicus. The record-breaking heat is being fueled by a strong El Nino event, which is already the largest seen in recent years and continues to grow. Copernicus scientist Jane Lubchenco described the record as \"very troubling,\" noting that a warmer ocean leads to destabilized weather patterns, threatens food security, economic prosperity, and marine life. This warming also makes storms more intense and increases the risk of acidification and oxygen depletion in the ocean, which can harm industries reliant on marine resources. In Europe, warmer ocean temperatures exacerbate heat waves by eliminating the cooling effect of sea breezes. Typically, the Southern Hemisphere's sea surface temperatures peak in March and April as the southern summer winds down, but this year, the record was set in August. The oceans are expected to keep getting warmer until the current El Nino peaks, which is anticipated between November and January.",
  "summary": "The world’s oceans simmered to their hottest temperatures on record over the weekend and are likely to warm even further in the next few months, putting stress on life in the water and on land too, the European climate service Copernicus announced…",
  "key_points": [
    "World's oceans hit hottest temperatures on record in August",
    "Record 21.1°C (70°F) surpassed previous March 2024 peak",
    "El Nino event fueling unprecedented ocean warming"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Earth is simmering in its hottest water temps on record, and that’s bad for fish and us",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/earth-is-simmering-in-its-hottest-water-temps-on-record-and-thats-bad-3092379",
        "published": "2026-08-24T19:19:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}