Global Ocean Temperatures Hit Record High in July
Global ocean temperatures reached a record high in July 2026, driven partly by El Niño conditions in the Pacific, with sea surface temperatures hitting 20.96°C and triggering devastating marine heat waves across Europe and threatening coast
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported on August 11 that global oceans reached record surface temperatures in July 2026, partly driven by El Niño conditions in the Pacific. Between 60°N and 60°S latitude, average sea surface temperatures hit 20.96°C, exceeding the previous high of 20.89°C recorded in 2023. July also ranks as the second-hottest July on record globally, running 1.47°C above pre-industrial averages.
Europe experienced historic ocean warming along Atlantic coastlines and the western Mediterranean, triggering intense and widespread marine heat waves. Tropical Pacific waters remain exceptionally warm during the ongoing El Niño and are expected to intensify over the coming months. Warming oceans drive sea level rise—thermal expansion alone accounts for roughly one-third of observed increases—threatening low-lying coasts and island nations.
Warmer seas intensify and prolong marine heat waves, triggering widespread coral bleaching and destroying seaweed beds and fisheries. The warming also increases heat and moisture evaporation into the atmosphere, fueling more severe tropical storms with heavier rainfall.
