August of last year’s record of 20.98C was surpassed by the worldwide average sea surface temperature of 21.06C in February, according to new satellite data from the European Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Large portions of the world’s oceans were significantly warmer than the long-term average, according to maps made public by the organization. The water surrounding the United Kingdom was very warm in the Atlantic.
The world’s coral reefs are currently facing their fourth known global bleaching event due to the high water temperatures, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Corals may expel the vibrant algae that is residing in their tissues due to heat stress. They get bleached white in the absence of the algae, making them susceptible to illness and famine before going extinct.
The head of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch, Derek Manzello, stated to the Reuters news agency that “it looks like the entire Southern Hemisphere is probably going to bleach this year.”
