Copernicus Confirms New Global Sea-Surface Temperature Record

Overview

• Copernicus confirmed late Wednesday that daily global sea-surface temperatures peaked on 21 June at about 20.86–21.0°C, topping the values seen in 2023 and 2024 for the same period.
• The services said the record reflects both cumulative human-driven warming and the onset of an El Niño event that seasonal models indicate could be unusually strong.
• Warmer oceans feed more heat into the atmosphere, increase evaporation that powers storms, raise flood risk and drive marine heatwaves that can kill corals and disrupt fisheries.
• The ocean record comes as Europe endures extreme land heat: Spain’s health institute attributes at least 1,028 deaths to June heat and Portugal has issued red alerts with forecasts up to 44°C.
• Two independent Copernicus analyses reached the same conclusion, strengthening confidence in the finding, while forecasts warn that higher ocean and air temperatures may persist in the coming months.