Ocean surface temperatures have shattered all previous records for June, prompting a red flag warning from climate experts worldwide. On 21 June, satellite data revealed that sea temperatures across the globe's oceans had exceeded even the highest levels seen in 2023 and 2024 – a milestone marking the latest escalation of a long-term trend.
The alarming peak coincides with the emergence of an El Niño event, predicted to be one of the strongest on record. The Copernicus Climate Change Service has issued a stark warning that this temperature spike will have far-reaching consequences for global weather patterns and marine ecosystems. Scientists describe the previous June ocean record as 'terrifying', which preceded severe heatwaves, floods, and storms in 2023.
The state of the oceans offers a more complete picture of human-induced warming's impact on Earth's climate balance, with seas absorbing over 90% of excess energy generated by fossil fuel burning. This imbalance reached an unprecedented 23 zettajoules last year – a figure more than double that seen in previous decades.
The rate at which oceans are heating up is accelerating rapidly. In 2020, they were absorbing heat equivalent to five Hiroshima bombs detonating every second; by last year, this had increased to around 11 blasts per second. UN Secretary General António Guterres has expressed concerns that 'Earth is being pushed beyond its limits' due to such changes.
While it's still early days for this year's temperature peak – typically observed in July and August – scientists warn that the current surge could signal a new climatic phase. Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, suggests 'we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months' with ocean temperatures at these unprecedented levels and El Niño on the horizon.