The world’s oceans have entered another alarming record. According to data from the European Copernicus programme, the global average surface temperature of seas and oceans has reached 21.1 degrees Celsius, the highest level recorded since 1979.
The record was registered at an unusual time
According to Copernicus, the record was set on August 22, at a point in the year when ocean temperatures do not usually peak. Under normal conditions, the highest average values are recorded in March and April, after summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
This makes the signal even more concerning, as it shows that sea surface warming is appearing beyond the seasonal rhythm known until now.
The previous record was broken by a minimal margin
The previous record was 21.09 degrees Celsius and was recorded in March 2024. Now, the global average has climbed to 21.1 degrees, setting a new maximum in the modern measurement series.
Although the numerical difference appears small, on a global scale it is seen as a meaningful indicator of the continuing warming trend.
Scientists link the increase to global warming and El Niño
According to climatologist Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the new record is mainly linked to global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions, especially from the burning of oil, natural gas and coal.
Another factor that, according to experts, is pushing temperatures higher is the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean. According to Samantha Burgess, Copernicus’s strategic lead for climate, this phenomenon is further raising temperatures, especially in tropical areas.
The consequences extend from corals to extreme weather
The continued warming of the oceans is increasing pressure on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Among the most serious consequences is the damage and destruction of coral reefs around the world, one of the clearest signals of the climate crisis.
According to Copernicus, higher sea temperatures also increase the risk of extreme weather events. Warmer oceans release more heat and moisture into the atmosphere, creating conditions for more intense rainfall and stronger storms.
A natural protection against the climate crisis is also weakening
A warmer ocean can absorb less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This means one of the most important natural mechanisms that helps curb climate change is being weakened.
In practice, the signal is twofold: not only are the waters warming, but part of the planet’s ability to mitigate the escalating crisis on its own is also gradually being lost.
The new record registered by Copernicus adds to the pressure behind scientists’ warnings about the pace of global warming.
When ocean temperatures break new limits outside the usual seasonal logic, the alarm no longer remains only a climate statistic, but directly affects ecosystems, weather and coastal areas around the world.