Marine heat waves now impact 42 percent of the world’s oceans as of August 2026. The rise in ocean temperatures coincides with a new El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific. This phenomenon significantly raises sea surface temperatures.
Recent data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service highlights this alarming development. The recorded average global sea surface temperature neared 70 degrees Fahrenheit recently. Such high temperatures may not have been observed for thousands of years, indicating a potentially unprecedented climatic condition.