- Global sea surface temperatures reached an unprecedented high of 21.1 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in August, driven by a combination of human-induced climate change and an intensifying El Niño pattern.
- The European climate service Copernicus warned that ocean temperatures will likely continue rising until the El Niño phenomenon reaches its peak between November and January, leading to unprecedented climate conditions.
- Oceanographers say warming seas disrupt atmospheric conditions, exacerbate storm intensity and rainfall, and amplify land heatwaves by limiting the cooling effects of nighttime sea breezes.
- Marine ecologists highlight severe risks to marine life and global food security, pointing out that coral populations have dropped to a fifth of 1990s levels and major commercial fisheries face potential collapse.
- Scientists warn that as oceans lose oxygen and become increasingly acidic, vital marine ecosystems are collapsing, forcing larger species to migrate while opportunistic organisms like jellyfish thrive in the warmer waters.
IN FULL
