Ocean heat reached 21.1°C on August 22 — a new record

The Copernicus Climate Service recorded the event on August 22, when the average temperature of the world ocean surface reached 21.1 degrees Celsius, One.uz reports.

The result is an absolute record in the history of satellite observations since 1979, confirmed by both TASS agency and the Ixbt.com website.

The previous record was set in March of this year at 21.09 degrees. The new value exceeds the previous one by only 0.01 degree, but climatologists consider this seemingly minor difference significant when viewed in the context of timing.

Breakdown of the ocean’s normal seasonal cycle
Under normal conditions, the world ocean surface temperature is lowest in January–February, then rises to its annual peak in March or April. Therefore, a reading of 21.1 degrees at the end of August is anomalous.

This indicates a deviation from the typical seasonal cycle. Climate experts link this change to the long-term trend of global warming and the influence of the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean.

Combined effect of El Niño and global warming
El Niño intensifies the warming of ocean waters, adding extra degrees to global temperatures. Experts regard this natural phenomenon as an additional layer superimposed on the long-term global warming trend driven by human activity.

Together, these two factors push ocean temperatures to unprecedented highs, breaking records day after day. Global consequences: sea level and weather
Excessive ocean heating causes thermal expansion of seawater, which in turn leads to rising sea levels.

At the same time, increased heat amplifies the likelihood of intensifying tropical cyclones, floods, and other extreme weather events. These outcomes pose a serious threat to the planet’s ecosystems, coastal cities, and small island nations.

For this reason, climate scientists emphasize the need for precise monitoring and data-based forecasting of even the smallest temperature changes.