Copernicus Says World Oceans Hit Record June Heat
Copernicus said marine heatwaves affected about 82% of the global ocean by late June as El Niño and greenhouse gases pushed temperatures higher.
- Global average sea surface temperatures reached a record high for the January-to-June period, according to the European Union's Copernicus Marine Service, capping six months of unprecedented ocean warmth in 2026.
- Scientists warn that a powerful El Niño weather pattern, combined with greenhouse gas emissions, is driving temperatures higher; oceans absorb 90 per cent of excess heat caused by humanity's fossil fuel burning.
- Marine heatwaves affected around 82% of the world's oceans during the January-to-June period, with the Mediterranean reaching 24.3°C and the tropical Pacific 27.26°C, the service reported.
- Hotter seas directly increase sea level rise through thermal expansion and create unbearable conditions for tropical reefs; warmer oceans provide fuel for tropical cyclones and destructive rainfall.
- Copernicus Climate Change Service director Carlo Buontempo warns conditions may indicate a new phase; with El Niño on the horizon, he said "we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months.
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168 Articles
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