By Zoila Palma: The world’s oceans have reached their highest recorded average surface temperature, according to new data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, raising further concerns about the impacts of climate change and a strengthening El Niño weather phenomenon.
Global average sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions reached 21.1°C (70°F) on Saturday, slightly surpassing the previous record of 21.09°C recorded on three days in March 2024.
Scientists say the timing is particularly concerning because ocean temperatures typically reach their annual peak around March or April, rather than in August, BBC reports.
The unusually warm conditions are being driven by a combination of long-term human-caused warming and El Niño, which brings warmer-than-usual waters to the surface across the eastern and central tropical Pacific.
“This record is another clear signal of an ocean under growing stress,” said Dr. Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, adding that El Niño is “adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming.”
Scientists warn that further warming could have serious consequences for people and marine ecosystems, including stronger extreme weather, rising sea levels, coastal flooding and damage to coral reefs and other marine habitats.
The post International News: World’s Oceans reach record high temperatures as El Niño adds to climate warming appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The world’s oceans have reached their highest recorded average surface temperature, according to new data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, raising further concerns about the impacts of climate change and a strengthening El Niño weather phenomenon. Global average sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions reached 21.1°C (70°F) on
The post International News: World’s Oceans reach record high temperatures as El Niño adds to climate warming appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
