Paris: The world’s oceans recorded their hottest June on record, with scientists warning that sea surface temperatures could climb even higher in the coming months as climate change and the emerging El Niño weather pattern combine to intensify global warming.
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Marine Service, the global average sea surface temperature reached 20.98°C in June, surpassing the previous records set in 2023 and 2024.
Despite the record-breaking June, the average sea surface temperature for the first six months of the year stood at 20.04°C, marginally below the record recorded during the same period in 2024.
Scientists said the expected development of a potentially strong El Niño event could further warm both the world’s oceans and the atmosphere during the remainder of 2026 and into next year.
The combination of long-term human-driven climate change and the natural warming effect associated with El Niño is expected to increase the likelihood of further marine heat records and unusually high global temperatures in the months ahead.
