Scientists report the hottest ocean temperatures ever recorded as a powerful El Niño develops in the tropical Pacific. Europe’s Earth observation agency Copernicus says the global average sea-surface temperature reaches a new record of 21.1°C (70°F) on Aug. 22.
The metric is tracked daily by Copernicus, which notes the previous single-day record was 21.09°C, measured in March 2024. Both outlets link the spike to the combination of long-term warming and the added heat from El Niño conditions, which shift tropical Pacific ocean temperatures and can raise sea-surface temperatures across the globe.
While the articles share the same core figures and attribution to Copernicus, they frame the event slightly differently: one emphasizes the timing and record-setting measurement, while the other highlights the role of climate change alongside El Niño in producing a “super” El Niño scenario. Neither report challenges the measurement itself; both treat the rise as an observed, near-term peak during the ongoing formation of the phenomenon.
