Data: ClimateReanalyzer.org; Note: Average reflects 1982-2011 mean; Chart: Rahul Mukherjee and Simran Parwani/Axios
Since mid-March, the world’s oceans have been hotter than at anytime since at least 1982, raising concerns among some climate experts about accelerated warming.
Why it matters: Hotter oceans are hugely consequential for land areas, since they can contribute to more frequent and severe extreme weather and climate events, from deluges to heat waves.
