Marine heat waves are cooking our ocean ecosystems—and will only become more common
You may have heard reports of fish die-offs or seen photos of hauntingly bleached coral.
Environment
Aug 13, 2026
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Research news on sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature (SST) is the temperature of the ocean’s uppermost layer, typically measured within the top millimeter to several meters, depending on instrumentation and protocol. It is a fundamental variable in physical oceanography and climate science, governing air–sea heat fluxes, evaporation, and the development of atmospheric circulation patterns. SST strongly influences ocean stratification, mixed-layer dynamics, and the formation of phenomena such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation. It is observed using in situ sensors (buoys, ships, Argo floats) and satellite radiometers, with careful corrections for skin versus bulk temperature, diurnal warming, and instrumental biases to support climate monitoring and coupled model validation.
Report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, global sea level and ocean heat in 2025
According to the 36th annual State of the Climate report, greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2025.
Environment
Aug 10, 2026
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The impact of recent super El Niños on sea level rise
El Niños and La Niñas are the third-most dominant influences on Earth's climate, after the sun and the greenhouse effect. But they haven't been easy to decipher or to predict in terms of when they will happen and what exact ...
El Niño alters marine life in the Pacific
As of June 2026, El Niño has officially arrived. This naturally recurring phenomenon is characterized by warmer-than-normal water temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific, along with changes to atmospheric and oceanic ...
Environment
Aug 10, 2026
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SMOS mission could offer early indicator of El Niño
Sea-surface salinity, the concentration of dissolved salts in the upper layer of the ocean, is much more than a measure of how salty the sea is. It responds rapidly to changes in rainfall, evaporation, river discharge and, ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 30, 2026
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UK sets record for number of days over 34°C
The UK on Thursday experienced its eighth day in 2026 with the mercury climbing above 34°C (94°F), the Met Office said, breaking the previous record by one day.
Environment
Jul 9, 2026
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Day-night ocean warming helps explain why El Niño outpaces La Niña in models
Researchers have long known that there is an asymmetry in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the confluence of wind and water currents that creates warm El Niño events and cooler La Niña events. Large-scale climate ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 7, 2026
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The world's oceans are the hottest on record for June—and El Niño is set to turn up the heat even more
The world's oceans are the hottest on record for June, pushing past records set during the 2023–24 El Niño years.
Environment
Jul 5, 2026
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80
Sea turtles diving through the eye of the storm help develop better cyclone forecasts
Every summer, communities across northern Australia brace for the tropical cyclone season. Tropical cyclones draw their power from the warm seas, extracting heat and moisture from ocean water.
Earth Sciences
Jul 3, 2026
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Image: Mediterranean Sea breaks June surface heat record
This image shows the sea surface temperature anomaly detected in the Mediterranean Sea on June 29, 2026, compared with the average for the period 1991–2020, with dark red indicating temperatures that exceed the average by ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 2, 2026
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