The average temperature of the world’s oceans reached its highest level ever recorded during July, prompting warnings of further heatwaves and extreme weather events from the combination of global warming and the El Niño phenomenon.
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Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European Union’s climate monitoring service, show that the average sea surface outside polar regions, from 60 degrees north to 60 degrees south, warmed to 20.96 degrees Celsius during July.
The new record surpassed the figure of 20.89 degrees Celsius, which was measured in July 2023.
July also ranked as the second-hottest month recorded globally, with an average temperature about 1.47 degrees Celsius higher compared to the pre-industrial period.
An exceptional heat situation has also been recorded in Western Europe. According to Copernicus, June and July together make up the hottest period ever measured in this region, with an average of 21.62 degrees Celsius, or about 2.79 degrees above normal.
The combination of high temperatures and lack of rainfall has created favorable ground for the spread of large wildfires, especially in France, Spain, parts of Germany, and the United Kingdom.
According to experts, heat and drought are aggravating each other.
“This is a clear example of how climate change is intensifying heat extremes, with heat and drought reinforcing each other,” stated Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Adding to the concern is the strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, a natural occurrence that influences the planet’s overall temperatures.
Scientists estimate that the interaction of El Niño with human-caused global warming, especially the burning of fossil fuels, could lead to a further rise in temperatures.
Oceans are a key component of Earth’s climate system. They absorb most of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gases and supply the planet with roughly half of its oxygen.
However, the warmer the waters become, the less carbon dioxide they can absorb, causing a larger amount of greenhouse gases to remain in the atmosphere.
Record ocean warming is also causing consequences for marine ecosystems. Species are moving toward areas with cooler waters, which is altering food chains and disrupting natural balances.
The drought in Europe has significantly lowered the levels of several major rivers, including the Rhine, Seine, and Danube. This has added difficulties for water supply, agriculture, river transport, and energy production.
In the United Kingdom, July turned out to be the driest month since the start of 190-year records, and in some areas authorities have officially declared a drought.
Experts underline that phenomena previously considered rare are now recurring with increasing frequency.
Met Office data show that the highest annual temperature in southern England is now about 4.5 degrees Celsius above the average for the 1961-1990 period.
“We are living in a time of historic and unprecedented change,” said Mike Kendon, climate scientist at the Met Office.
Currently, the planet is about 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than at the end of the 19th century. According to experts, the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly clear through heatwaves, droughts, fires, and other extreme events.
