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Samantha Burgess reports world's oceans reached hottest temperature on record due to El Niño and human-caused climate change

The world's oceans reached their hottest temperature on record over the weekend, hitting an average surface temperature of 21.1 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit). Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead for Copernicus, noted that this record was set in August, which is unusual as sea temperatures typically peak in March or April. The warming is driven by a combination of long-term human-caused climate change and a strong, developing El Niño event, which is expected to reach its peak between November and January. Scientists warn that these record-breaking temperatures have significant implications for global weather patterns, including intensified storms, rising sea levels, and increased risks of coastal flooding. The warming also puts immense pressure on marine life, threatening food security and potentially causing fisheries collapse. While some species, such as jellyfish, are adapting well to the warm water, others like coral reefs and anchovies are more vulnerable. The Copernicus data, which covers oceans outside the polar regions, highlights a troubling upward trend in ocean temperatures that reinforces the growing impact of human-caused climate change.

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