Climate Change and El Nino Push Global Average Sea Surface Temperatures to Record Highs Again

Intensifying climate change and El Nino have pushed global sea surface temperatures to record highs once again.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the 24th (local time), data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) showed that the global average sea surface temperature reached 21.1°C (70°F) as of the 22nd.

This figure surpasses the previous record of 21.09°C (70°F) set in March 2024.

Global sea surface temperatures typically peak not in August, but in March or around the end of the Southern Hemisphere's summer in April.

Experts are concerned that sea surface temperatures have already surpassed record highs even though El Nino has not yet reached its peak.

This is because sea temperatures are bound to rise further as El Nino strengthens.

El Nino is a phenomenon in which sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific become abnormally higher than usual, affecting global climate overall, including temperatures and precipitation.

In particular, this El Nino is projected to be one of the strongest in decades.

"If current trends continue, sea temperatures will likely break record highs once again in March or April of next year," said Jeremy Grist, a senior researcher at the UK National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

Rising sea temperatures also heighten concerns about extreme weather events.

If seawater remains warm, more energy and water vapor will be supplied to form typhoons, and heatwaves could intensify on land.

In addition, sea levels may rise and marine habitats for various plants and animals could be harmed.

"This is already placing increasing pressure on marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.