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Record ocean temperatures set new high as Super El Niño develops

Copernicus data show the global average sea-surface temperature reached 21.1C on Aug. 22, up from a prior single-day record of 21.09C in March 2024.

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Scientists recorded the highest-ever ocean temperature as climate change combines with a strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific, according to Insurance Journal, citing Europe’s Copernicus climate and atmosphere monitoring.

Copernicus said the global average sea-surface temperature hit a record 21.1C, or 70F, on Aug. 22, surpassing the previous single-day record of 21.09C measured in March 2024. The agency has tracked the metric daily since 1979.

Copernicus climate officials said El Niño adds heat on top of decades of human-driven warming, raising the risk of impacts for marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

The report said higher ocean temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and increase the chance of extreme weather by transferring more heat and moisture to the atmosphere, and warmer oceans also reduce the ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

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