Global ocean temperatures hit record high as El Nino intensifies

The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that global average sea surface temperatures reached a record high of 21.1 degrees Celsius on August 11th and 12th, surpassing the previous record from March 2024. This unprecedented strain on the world's oceans is attributed to a combination of a rapidly intensifying El Nino and human-caused climate change. Samantha Burgess of the ECMWF stated that El Nino is adding heat to a system already warmed by decades of human-driven warming. The timing of this August record is particularly notable, as ocean temperatures typically peak in March or April. The World Meteorological Organization also anticipates El Nino strengthening in the coming months, potentially reaching levels not seen for decades.

Europe's Earth observation agency, Copernicus, recorded the highest global average sea-surface temperature ever on August 22, reaching 21.1 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit). This record surpasses the previous high of 21.09 degrees measured in March 2024. Scientists attribute this unprecedented heat to the combination of a powerful El Nino forming in the tropical Pacific and ongoing human-driven global warming. Samantha Burgess of Copernicus' European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts explained that El Nino is amplifying the existing heat in the ocean system. Copernicus has been tracking daily global average sea-surface temperatures since 1979.