Ocean-surface temperatures are breaking records

Global ocean-surface temperatures reached a new record high of 21.1°C, more than half a degree above the 1982-2011 average. The spike may be due to the end of a three-year-long La Niña and the possibility of an El Niño event. Warmer ocean waters have far-reaching consequences, including more rapid m

May 6, 2023 . 8:02 PM

1 min read

Global sea-surface temperatures reached a new record of 21.1°C on April 1st, more than half a degree above the 1982-2011 average.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (enso) may have contributed to the record-breaking temperatures, along with the end of a three-year-long La Niña.
Warmer ocean waters have far-reaching consequences, including more rapid melting of ice sheets, coral bleaching, stronger storms, higher sea levels, and accelerated warming of the atmosphere.
Hotter seas absorb less heat and less carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change.
Scientists predict that an El Niño event may be on the horizon, bringing higher air temperatures and exacerbating the warming trend.