Belgium: Global ocean temperatures have reached their highest level on record, with the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service warning that a strengthening El Nino and human-driven climate change are placing unprecedented pressure on the world’s oceans.
Sea surface temperatures reached 21.1 degrees Celsius on August 21 and 22, surpassing the previous record of 21.09 degrees Celsius recorded in March 2024.
Copernicus said the timing of the latest record was particularly unusual because global ocean temperatures generally reach their highest levels in March and April, when summer ends in the Southern Hemisphere. This year’s record was instead recorded in August.
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said El Nino was adding heat to the climate system on top of decades of human-driven warming.
El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern involving the warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon can influence weather patterns around the world and contribute to higher global temperatures. Scientists expect the current El Nino to strengthen further, with its peak likely between November and January.
The World Meteorological Organization has also forecast a strengthening El Nino, while Copernicus said its seasonal forecasting system indicates the event could reach levels not seen for several decades.
Long-term warming caused by fossil fuel emissions has already increased ocean temperatures by around 0.8 degrees Celsius, adding to the heat associated with the current El Nino.
Rising ocean temperatures can have significant consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Warmer seas can disrupt marine habitats, affect fish populations and place additional pressure on communities that depend on the ocean for food and livelihoods.
Copernicus also warned that warmer oceans absorb less carbon dioxide, weakening an important natural mechanism that helps slow climate change. At the same time, warmer seawater can add more heat and moisture to the atmosphere, increasing the potential for extreme weather events.
Oceanographer Jane Lubchenco, a former head of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, described the record as deeply concerning, warning that warmer oceans could disrupt weather patterns and threaten food security, economic activity and marine life.
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