New Ocean Temperature Records Set in July as El Niño Adds Pressure on Global Climate

During July, ocean surface temperatures reached record highs for this time of year, while the development of the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean is driving up temperatures worldwide, according to data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The sea surface, excluding polar regions, recorded an average temperature of 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous high of 20.89 degrees recorded in July 2023.

This July also ranked as the second-hottest ever documented globally, with the planet’s average temperature standing around 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.

In Western Europe, June and July brought unprecedented temperatures. The combined average for the two months reached 21.62 degrees Celsius, or 2.79 degrees above normal, as prolonged drought and heatwaves created favorable conditions for the spread of massive wildfires.

Copernicus experts explained that persistent high-pressure air masses trapped heat over Western Europe, while the lack of soil moisture reduced the land surface’s natural cooling capacity.

At the same time, Atlantic waters off the European coast and in the western Mediterranean experienced record-high temperatures, generating intense marine heatwaves.

The situation remains equally alarming in the tropical Pacific, where temperatures continue to be exceptionally high as El Niño conditions intensify and are expected to strengthen further in the coming months. This natural weather cycle, amplified by human-caused global warming, could lead to further temperature increases and more severe extreme weather events.

Ocean warming has multiple consequences for the climate system and the natural world. Water expanding due to higher temperatures contributes to rising sea levels, while high marine temperatures are causing longer and more severe periods of heat, damaging coral reefs, seagrass meadows and the fishing industry.

The oceans play an essential role in maintaining Earth’s thermal balance by absorbing most of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gases. High sea surface temperatures also increase evaporation and the amount of moisture in the air, providing more energy for tropical storms and heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, drought across the European continent has significantly reduced flows in major rivers such as the Seine, Rhine and Danube, increasing pressure on water resources, agriculture, ecosystems, river navigation and electricity generation.