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Global ocean surface temperature hits record 21.1 C during El Nino
Copernicus said the record sea surface temperature reached 21.1 C on August 22, driven by El Nino adding heat on top of decades of human-driven warming.
Scientists recorded the highest-ever global average sea-surface temperature, with Copernicus data showing a reading of 21.1 degrees Celsius, or 70 Fahrenheit, on August 22. The European Earth observation agency has tracked the daily metric since 1979, according to SCMP Economy.
Copernicus said the prior single-day record was 21.09 degrees Celsius, set in March 2024, and it attributed the new peak to a powerful El Nino in the tropical Pacific combining with long term ocean warming tied to climate change.
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at Copernicus’ European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said El Nino is adding extra heat to an already warming system. She warned that continued higher ocean temperatures raise risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
SCMP Economy also highlighted that warmer oceans can contribute to sea level rise and make extreme weather more likely by transferring more heat and moisture to the atmosphere, intensifying storms and heat on land. Copernicus added that warmer waters absorb less carbon dioxide.