Months of record-breaking heat and the El Niño weather pattern have pushed ocean temperatures to alarming new heights, scientists revealed this week. February 2024 marked the hottest average sea surface temperature ever recorded—21.06°C (69.9°F)—a stark reminder of our planet’s accelerating climate crisis.
Why This Matters
Oceans act as Earth’s giant climate sponge, absorbing 90% of excess heat from human-made carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution. But now, they’re struggling to keep up. Carlo Buontempo of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) warned, \"Our civilization has never had to cope with this climate.\"
El Niño, a natural warming phase in the Pacific, has supercharged human-driven warming, creating a 'double whammy' effect. Last month also marked the ninth consecutive month of global temperature records, with 2023 already dubbed the year climate data went \"off the charts.\"
What’s Next?
Warmer oceans mean more intense storms, coral bleaching, and disrupted marine ecosystems—ripple effects that could reshape economies and food security. Experts stress that cutting fossil fuels and boosting renewable energy are critical to slowing this trend.
\"These records aren’t just numbers,\" said one scientist. \"They’re a wake-up call.\"
Experts stress that cutting fossil fuels and boosting renewable energy are critical to slowing this trend.
