The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) reported that global sea surface temperatures (SST) reached record levels in June 2026.
On June 21, temperatures of 20.86 ºC were recorded, surpassing the records of 2023 and 2024. CMEMS even reported 21 ºC, marking a new historical high.
Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S, warned that these conditions could indicate “the beginning of a new phase leading us into uncharted territory.”
Factors explaining the phenomenon
- Climate change: the ocean absorbs 90% of the planet’s excess heat.
- El Niño phenomenon: its intensity could reach levels unseen in decades.
- Thermal anomalies: between 0.35 ºC and 0.73 ºC higher than the long-term average over the past three years.
Consequences of ocean warming
The Copernicus statement notes that high temperatures generate a warmer and prolonged atmosphere, provide additional energy to storms, and increase evaporation, raising the risk of extreme precipitation and flooding.
Additionally, they contribute to sea level rise, ice melt, and exert pressure on marine ecosystems.
Main impacts
- Sea level rise: warm water expands and, along with ice melt, floods coastal cities and erodes beaches.
- Coral bleaching: heat stresses corals, causing them to expel the algae that give them color and food, leading to their death.
- Less oxygen: warm water retains less oxygen, making it difficult for fish, turtles, and marine mammals to breathe.
- More destructive storms: warm ocean acts as fuel for hurricanes, making them stronger and more frequent.
- Disruption of the food chain: many species migrate towards the poles in search of cooler waters, disrupting the ecological balance.
A global challenge
The record of ocean heat confirms that the planet is facing a critical scenario. Marine heatwaves, polar ice melt, and biodiversity loss are signs that climate change is accelerating processes affecting both nature and human communities.
Experts insist that the only way to mitigate these impacts is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen international cooperation to protect the oceans, which are the planet’s largest climate regulator.
The record ocean temperatures in June 2026 are a clear warning: global warming and El Niño are driving the planet into unprecedented conditions.
Protecting the oceans and reducing emissions are urgent imperatives to prevent these phenomena from becoming recurrent catastrophes.
