Scientists say our oceans have hit their hottest recorded temperature largely because of Climate Change, with alarming implications for the planet. This week the average daily global Sea Surface Temperature hit almost 21 degrees celsius. Thats far above the average for the time of year and it beats the previous record set in 2016. The oceans are a vital regulator of the earths climate. Heres our climate editor, justin rowlatt. Theyve been taking measurements of Ocean Temperatures here in plymouth for more than a century. And for the last 50 or so years, theyve shown a slow but steady increase up about a third of a degree a decade. Have we got a reading for today yet, do you know . I heard them Say Something around 18 or 19, which is four Degrees Higher than it should be. Its been a similar pattern globally. Rising Sea Temperatures and increasing numbers of marine heatwaves. And it has just reached a new peak 20. 96 degrees celsius, the highest Global Average sea temperature ever record
at 20.96 degrees celsius. but look how high above the average it is. more than half a degree celsius above the average temperature for the time of year. remember, this is a global average, you are not expect it to very much year by year. the other interesting thing is that the peakis other interesting thing is that the peak is happening in august, not in march. now, 60% of the ocean is in the southern hemisphere. march is the southern hemisphere. march is the end of the southern summer. the sun has been shining on the ocean, you re expected to get hotter. this is happening exceptionally early. let s look at this other graph, which helps us understand why we are seeing this now. this shows marine heatwaves around the world. the redder the colour, the more intense the heatwave. you can see a lot of heatin the heatwave. you can see a lot of heat in the south atlantic, and also a lot of heat in the mid atlantic, a lot of heat in the north atlantic. that s really unusual. very high temperat