European satellite services record highest ocean surface temperature in June
The EU's Copernicus Climate Change and Marine Services reported a record global ocean temperature on June 21, prompting warnings of intensified heat waves and underscoring climate-change concerns.
The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service and Copernicus Marine Service said global ocean surface temperatures outside the polar regions reached a new high on June 21, surpassing previous records for the same period in 2023 and 2024. The Climate Change Service measured 20.86 °C (69.54 °F), while the Marine Service recorded 21 °C (69.8 °F).
"With ocean temperatures at these levels and El Niño on the horizon, we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months," said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. He added that the trend could signal the start of a new climatic phase.
Climate scientists linked the rise to continued greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil-fuel combustion. Richard Allan, a professor of climate science at the University of Reading, said the warming reflects the planet's reduced ability to shed heat to space. Oceanographer Pierre-Yves Le Traon, scientific director of Mercator Ocean International, emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring, adaptation, and emission reductions.
The record comes as heat alerts affect more than 46 million people in the United States, with the National Weather Service warning of temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s °F and isolated readings above 100 °F. Europe also experienced extreme heat, with health officials reporting excess deaths linked to the high temperatures.
