European Union Scientists Say Sea Temperature Reached Highest Record In February 2024

Illustration of underwater life. (Wikimedia Commons/Fascinating Universe)

JAKARTA - The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on Hari Kami revealed that the sea temperature reached a record high in February, with an average global sea surface temperature reaching 21.06 degrees Celsius (69.91 degrees Fahrenheit).

The average sea surface temperature in February surpassed the previous record of 20.98 C (69.77 F) reached in August 2023, in a data set dating back to 1979.

An alarming marine record occurred in February which is also the hottest record, marking the ninth month in a row.

Marine scientists warned this week that the fourth global mass coral bleaching event is likely to occur in the Southern Hemisphere, caused by water warming, and could be the worst in the planet's history.

Karang meluths due to hot pressure, emitting colorful vegetables that are useful living in its tissue, thus leaving behind a pale skeleton. This makes them vulnerable to hunger and disease, and many die. This can lead to the collapse of a fragile coral reef ecosystem, so that the coastline is not protected from erosion and storms, as well as reduced fisheries.

El Nino's climate pattern, caused by warmer surface water temperatures than usual in the East Pacific, and climate change caused by human activity also triggers excessive heat.

"What's even more surprising is that the sea surface temperature is at record levels in areas far from the center of El Nino's action, such as the tropical Atlantic and the Indian Ocean," said climate scientist Richard Allan of the University of Reading.

This, he said, shows the strong influence of increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

Although the global average sea surface temperature record does not cover polar oceans, the situation there is also in poor condition.

Antarctica's sea ice hit its annual minimum level in February, recording its third-lowest ever recorded, which was 28 percent below average.

El Nino is now weakening in the Pacific equator, C3S said, but the temperature of the air above the ocean remains at a very high level.