Record-breaking Ocean Heatwave Threatens Climate, Marine Life, and Coastal Communities

 The world's oceans have set a new temperature record, reaching a surface temperature of 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.7 Fahrenheit), according to data from the European Union climate observatory. This surpasses the previous record of 20.95C set in March 2016.

Scientists warn that the rise in ocean temperatures has significant implications for the planet's climate, marine life, and coastal communities. Oceans have absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat generated by human activity since the industrial age began.

However, as greenhouse gas emissions continue to accumulate in the Earth's atmosphere, this excess heat continues to accumulate in the oceans. The average ocean temperature has been breaking seasonal heat records since April. The ocean heatwave poses an immediate threat to marine life, with coral bleaching already observed in Florida.

The rise in temperatures also disrupts migration patterns and enables the spread of invasive species, jeopardizing fish stocks and food security in certain regions. Furthermore, warmer oceans are less capable of absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2), exacerbating the cycle of global warming. The El Nino phenomenon, which increases water temperatures, has only just