The planet’s oceans have broken the all-time June temperature record, with average global sea surface temperatures reaching 69.5 degrees Fahrenheit on June 21. This record was confirmed by data from Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which combines measurements from satellites, ships, and buoys.
Causes of the Record-Breaking Temperatures
The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean. Additionally, the human-driven climate crisis is also driving up temperatures, as oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.
Experts are expressing concern about the implications of these record-breaking temperatures, which could lead to more heat waves, fiercer storms, and increased evaporation, resulting in extreme rainfall and flooding. Ocean heat can also cause the mass bleaching of coral reefs, the death of other marine life, and increased sea level rise.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
