Ocean surface temperatures have reached a new record high, surpassing previous highs observed in 2023 and 2024, according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. This development has raised concerns about a potential surge in extreme weather events throughout the summer.
The record was set on June 21, with temperatures outside polar regions exceeding previous June highs. The Copernicus service warned that this new peak could lead to significant consequences for weather patterns, the global climate, and marine ecosystems. These potential impacts are further amplified by the emergence of an El Niño event, which is forecast to be one of the strongest in decades.
When a previous record was set in June 2023, scientists described the situation as alarming, noting that the trends were far outside their expectations. That period preceded an El Niño and was marked by widespread global heatwaves, floods, and storms. The current surpassing of the 2023 record, coupled with rising temperatures across much of the globe, is again drawing significant attention.
Oceans play a crucial role in reflecting the Earth's climate balance, absorbing over 90 percent of the excess energy generated by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels. This energy imbalance reached a record 23 zettajoules last year, more than double the average of the preceding two decades. The rate at which oceans are warming is accelerating; in 2020, the heat absorbed by oceans was equivalent to approximately five Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs per second, a figure that rose to about 11 per second last year.
While it remains too early to determine if the current sea surface warming trend will be temporary or worsen, annual temperature peaks are typically recorded in July and August. Carlo Buontempo, Copernicus director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, suggested that these temperatures could signal the beginning of a new phase, potentially leading to further temperature records being broken in the coming months, especially with El Niño on the horizon.