In February, ocean temperatures reached an unprecedented peak, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
The average global sea surface temperature was recorded at 21.06 degrees Celsius (69.91 degrees Fahrenheit). This surpasses the previous record of 20.98°C (69.77°F) set in August 2023, based on data dating back to 1979.
The alarming marine record coincided with the hottest February on record, marking the ninth consecutive month of such record-breaking temperatures for the respective month.
“What is more surprising is that sea surface temperatures are at record levels over regions far away from the centre of the El Nino action, such as the tropical Atlantic and Indian Ocean,” said climate scientist Richard Allan of the University of Reading.
Also read: Atlantic Ocean’s circulation reaching a tipping point that’s ‘bad news’ for climate & people: study
This week, marine scientists issued a cautionary alert about a potential fourth global mass coral bleaching event in the Southern Hemisphere, believed to be spurred by rising water temperatures, which could possibly become the most severe in recorded history.
Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues due to heat stress, resulting in a pale skeleton. This renders them susceptible to starvation and disease, leading to significant mortality.
Consequently, fragile reef ecosystems may collapse, leaving coastlines vulnerable to erosion and storms, and fisheries at risk of depletion.
