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Climate change
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Sea surface temperatures around the world have broken records, according to Copernicus

The Copernicus Climate Change Service said the situation "increases the risk of extreme rainfall and flooding."

SAN SEBASTIÁN, 24/06/2026.- Varias personas descansan a la sombra junto a la bahía de La Concha de San Sebastián este miércoles, en el que la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología ha hecho un balance del tiempo que ha hecho en primavera en el País Vasco y expone el pronóstico de la Aemet para este verano. EFE/Javier Etxezarreta

Image of La Concha Bay in San Sebastian. Photo: Javier Etxezarreta

Surface sea temperatures worldwide have surpassed record levels at this time ofyear in 2023 and 2024, as confirmed on Wednesday by both the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the Maritime Surveillance Service (CMEMS).

Specifically, C3S measured 20.86 degrees Celsius on June 21, above 20.83 degrees Celsius recorded on the same date in 2023 and 2024. On the other hand, CMEMS measured 21 degrees Celsius on the same day, beating the record of the previous two years by 0.1 degrees Celsius.

Copernicus says that while it is significant that temperatures set new records for this time of year, this situation coincides with the onset of the El Niño phenomenon and the record temperatures measured on the surface of the sea in the North Pacific in the previous months.

"Broad conclusions"

However, Copernicus recalls that when the global surface temperatures of the sea last reached record levels at this time of year in June 2024, El Niño-South Oscillation (ENSO) was returning to a state of neutrality following the El Niño incident that began in spring 2023, so he warns that a warmer ocean could have extensive consequences.

Higher ocean temperatures keep the atmosphere warm for longer, provide more energy to storms and increase evaporation, leading to increased risk of heavy rainfall and flooding, as well as acceleratingocean warming, rising sea levels and thawing, and exerting greater pressure on marine ecosystems.

High temperatures in the oceans

He also explains that higher temperatures on the surface of the sea lead to more frequent and intense waves of marine heat, which alteroceanic ecosystems and fisheries, damage coastal economies, and can increase extreme warming in nearby terrestrial areas.

Finally, Copernicus recalls that the El Niño phenomenon is a source of heat for the atmosphere, which increases the world's average temperature and alters weather patterns across the planet.

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