Global ocean hits record 21.1°C as El Niño supercharges warming
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The daily global average sea surface temperature reached 21.1°C on Aug. 22, the highest since records began in 1979, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The record surpassed the previous high of 21.09°C set in March 2024. The August peak is unusual because ocean temperatures typically decline at this time of year.
Key Facts
- The daily global average sea surface temperature hit 21.1°C on Aug. 22, 2026, the highest since records began in 1979.
- The previous record was 21.09°C, set in March 2024.
- The prior August record was 20.98°C.
- The record coincided with a strong El Niño developing in the tropical Pacific.
- The World Meteorological Organization expects El Niño to intensify in the coming months.
Record Ocean Temperature
On Saturday, Aug. 22, the daily global average sea surface temperature was hotter than at any time since records began in 1979, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The reading of 21.1°C slightly exceeded the previous maximum of 21.09°C set in March 2024. The prior August record was 20.98°C. Copernicus noted that the global maximum usually occurs in March or April, after the Southern Hemisphere summer. Setting a record in August, when temperatures normally decline, underscores the persistent anomalous warming of the ocean.
El Niño Influence
The record coincided with the development of a strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The World Meteorological Organization expects El Niño to intensify in the coming months. Seasonal forecasts from Copernicus allow for intensity levels not seen in decades. Scientists caution that attributing the record solely to El Niño would be incorrect. Copernicus stated that El Niño adds heat to the system on top of decades of anthropogenic warming.
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Global ocean hits record 21.1°C as El Niño supercharges warming
