The EU Copernicus program and the Copernicus Marine Service report global sea surface temperatures at record highs, with averages near 20.9C to 21.0C as El Ni o strengthens and satellite data from the European Space Agency confirm the spike.Marine heatwaves now affect roughly 82% of the oceans, driving coral bleaching, mass marine wildlife deaths and unusually warm conditions in the Mediterranean and tropical Pacific that raise the risk of stronger storms, heavier rainfall and accelerated sea level rise.Carlo Buontempo and
Friederike Otto warn these measurements could signal a sustained phase of ocean and near-surface warming unless fossil fuel emissions fall, and
Copernicus says additional temperature records are likely as ocean heat and El Ni o effects persist.