Global ocean surface temperature reaches record high

Global ocean surface temperature reached 21.1°C on August 22, the highest value recorded since systematic satellite-era observations began in 1979, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The new mark edges out the previous absolute record of 21.09°C and surpasses the August 2023 peak of 20.98°C. Researchers note the timing is unusual: global sea-surface temperatures typically climax in March and April, not late August. The anomalous warming spans latitudes from 60° south to 60° north. Copernicus attributes the spike to the combination of long-term anthropogenic warming and the development of a strong El Niño — a natural climate pattern in the tropical Pacific that releases additional heat into the ocean and atmosphere.