The world's oceans recorded their hottest June on record this year as marine heatwaves spread across most of the globe, new data released by the European Union's Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) has shown.
According to the agency, average global sea-surface temperatures reached 21 degrees Celsius in June, surpassing previous records for the month.
By the end of June, marine heatwaves covered about 82 per cent of the world's oceans, the second-largest area recorded after 2024.
The findings show that unusually warm ocean conditions have continued through the first half of 2026.
Average global sea-surface temperatures, CMEMS says, stood at 20.94 degrees Celsius between January and June, making it the second-warmest start to a year on record after 2024.
"The first half of 2026 was marked by sustained and exceptional ocean warmth," said CMEMS Lead Oceanographer Simon Van Gennip.
The Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic and the tropical Pacific were among the regions hardest hit, with prolonged periods of unusually warm water pushing some areas to record or near-record temperatures.
According to CMEMS, the Mediterranean experienced marine heatwaves during the first half of the year, with June becoming the basin's warmest on record.
Parts of the North Atlantic also registered record monthly sea-surface temperatures, while the tropical Pacific recorded its warmest June since records began.
Warmer oceans can disrupt marine ecosystems, intensify marine heatwaves, influence weather patterns and contribute to rising sea levels, making ocean temperatures one of the key indicators scientists monitor to understand changes in the Earth's climate.
The pattern, Van Gennip said, pointed to "an ocean under sustained thermal stress" and highlighted the importance of continued monitoring to track how conditions are changing.
The warming, scientists said, is consistent with the development of El Niño, which typically raises sea-surface temperatures across parts of the tropical Pacific and influences weather patterns around the world.
They added that the weather phenomenon is unfolding against the backdrop of long-term human-driven climate change, which continues to warm the world's oceans.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that El Niño conditions are likely to develop in the coming months, raising the risk of disruptive weather patterns worldwide and adding further pressure to an already warming planet.
In its latest El Niño update, the UN weather agency said there is an 80 per cent probability that El Niño will emerge between June and August 2026.
The phenomenon is likely to persist, with more than a 90 per cent chance it will continue through at least November.
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