In February, the average global ocean surface temperature reached a record high, exceeding 21 degrees Celsius. This was reported on Thursday by the EU climate service Copernicus.
The previous record was set in August 2023. Then the average ocean surface temperature was 20.98 degrees.
Moreover, statistics have been kept since 1979.
The alarming sea record was recorded during the hottest February on record. At the same time, the second month of winter has become warmer for the ninth year in a row.
Earlier this week, marine biologists warned that a fourth global mass coral bleaching event was likely unfolding in the Southern Hemisphere. And it could become the worst in the history of the planet.
Corals bleach when exposed to heat stress, crowding out the colorful beneficial algae living in their tissues. As a result, only their pale skeleton remains, vulnerable to disease and unable to obtain nutrients.
This could lead to the destruction of fragile reef ecosystems. As a result, coastlines will remain exposed to erosion. Fisheries will also be affected.
Extremely high temperatures are attributed to the climate phenomenon El Niño. This is the warming of the surface waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, which affects weather patterns throughout the planet.
