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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Damian Carrington Environment editor

World’s oceans hit hottest temperature on record in August

Aerial view of floating board and people on blue sea
Hotter oceans will exacerbate extreme weather, scientists warned. Photograph: Denys Bilytskyi/Alamy

The world’s oceans were hotter than ever previously recorded on Saturday, according to the latest data.

The average surface temperature was 21.1C, with the rising marine heat a stark indicator of the climate crisis. More than 90% of the heat trapped by carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning enters the oceans.

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