Global ocean temperatures hit record high in July amid strengthening El Niño

Global sea surface temperatures outside polar regions reached an unprecedented 20.96 degrees Celsius in July, surpassing the previous record established in 2023, according to European climate monitoring data. The oceanic heating coincided with the warmest combined June and July on record in Europe, which contributed to widespread wildfires and extended droughts across the continent.

Researchers attribute the extreme conditions to the combined effects of long-term climate change and a strengthening El Niño system in the Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon is escalating meteorological disruptions internationally, triggering severe flooding in parts of Asia, threatening agricultural sectors and supply chains, and raising concerns over an impending severe drought in the Amazon basin. Climate scientists warn that these compounding atmospheric dynamics may drive even higher global temperatures in subsequent years.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review, STV News, The Guardian.