Ocean temperatures just hit a record high—and the trend is what worries scientists

On June 21, ocean temperatures outside polar regions exceeded their previous highs from 2023 and 2024, according to data released July 1. Three years of records in a row signals warming is building, not just cycling. Scientists predicted strong El Niño conditions—a natural warming pattern. What's alarming: human-caused climate change and El Niño are amplifying each other, making the problem worse faster than either would alone.