The world's oceans recorded their warmest June on record in 2026, with scientists warning that temperatures could continue to climb in the coming months as El Niño develops alongside ongoing climate change.
According to the European Union's Copernicus Marine Service, global sea surface temperatures reached a record 21.0°C in June, surpassing previous records set in 2023 and 2024.
The report found that 82% of the global ocean experienced marine heatwaves during the first half of 2026. The Mediterranean Sea, central North Atlantic, and equatorial Pacific were identified as some of the regions under the greatest thermal stress.
Scientists say the expected return of El Niño could further increase ocean and atmospheric temperatures through 2026 and into next year. The natural climate pattern is associated with unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters and often contributes to extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires.
The findings follow a recent UN assessment warning that the world's oceans are in a "deepening crisis" as rising temperatures continue to accelerate sea-level rise, intensify tropical storms, and threaten marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.
Researchers stress that oceans absorb around 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions, making them one of Earth's most important regulators of the global climate.
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