Average surface temperatures in the world's oceans reached 20.9 degrees Celsius in June, the EU's climate service Copernicus announced. The previous records were from 2023 and 2024.
In addition, it is likely that a strong El Niño weather pattern could further drive up global warming in the oceans and atmosphere during the second half of 2026 and into next year.
"Current conditions may indicate the beginning of a new phase, which once again takes us into uncharted territory," Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo said in a statement.
The oceans play a crucial role in the world's climate because they absorb around 90 percent of the excess heat caused by humanity's emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
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