The world’s oceans have reached their highest temperature ever recorded, with the average surface temperature climbing to 21.1°C on Saturday, according to the latest data.
The new record is another major sign of the worsening climate crisis. More than 90% of the heat trapped by carbon dioxide released from fossil fuels is absorbed by the oceans.
Scientists warn that rising ocean temperatures can accelerate sea level rise, intensify storms and trigger marine heatwaves that damage sea life and threaten coastal livelihoods.
The Northern Hemisphere has already faced record-breaking heatwaves, droughts and wildfires across Europe and North America this summer, while parts of Asia have been hit by intense rainfall and typhoons.
The latest spike in ocean temperatures is also being intensified by a rapidly developing El Niño event, which is expected to be the hottest in at least a century.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern that raises global temperatures and disrupts weather conditions worldwide. The current event has already been linked to low monsoon rainfall, major wildfires and increased fire risks.
What makes the latest record particularly unusual is its timing. Global sea temperatures normally peak in March and April after the Southern Hemisphere summer, where a much larger share of the world’s ocean area is located.
Dr. Samantha Burgess of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which produced the data, said the record was another clear sign that the oceans are under growing pressure.
“El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming,” she said.
Burgess added that the number of marine heatwave days worldwide has more than tripled since the early 1990s.
Warmer oceans also contribute to sea level rise because seawater expands as it heats up. This increases flooding risks for coastal communities and low-lying island nations.
At the same time, hotter seas can strengthen extreme weather by transferring more energy and water vapor into the atmosphere, leading to heavier rainfall and more intense storms.
Oceans also absorb a large share of the carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuel use and forest destruction. However, scientists warn that warmer oceans become less efficient at absorbing CO₂, potentially weakening one of the planet’s most important natural defenses against global warming.
The post World’s Oceans Hit Highest Temperature Ever Recorded appeared first on ProPakistani.
