China’s coastal waters have recorded an average temperature of 21.50°C in 2024, the highest ever noted. This increase follows a global trend where ocean temperatures reached a record 20.87°C, leading to more extreme weather events worldwide, as reported by various climate monitoring agencies. 104 countries reported their all-time high temperatures this year, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action.
The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center of China has reported that the average temperature of its coastal waters has reached a historic high of 21.50°C in 2024. This marks an increase for the second consecutive year, rising 0.15°C from 2023 and 1.16°C above the normal annual average. Concurrently, global sea surface temperatures have also hit an unprecedented 20.87°C, establishing 2024 as the warmest year recorded for ocean waters in contemporary observational history, as per findings from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European Union’s climate monitoring body. The ramifications of rising ocean temperatures are significant, as they contribute to an increase in extreme weather events, including storms and climate-related disturbances.
The ongoing rise in sea surface temperatures is indicative of a broader global trend associated with climate change, which is intensifying weather patterns worldwide. Both national and international studies have shown a correlation between elevated ocean temperatures and a surge in extreme weather occurrences, threatening environmental stability and human safety. In a particularly alarming report, 104 countries recorded their highest temperatures in history in 2024, coinciding with severe droughts and wildfires in regions such as South Africa, Europe, and South Asia.
In summary, the record-high sea temperatures in China’s coastal regions reflect a global trend of increasing ocean temperatures, which poses significant risks for climate-related events worldwide. The data suggests that these warming trends will continue to have adverse impacts on both natural ecosystems and human communities. Thus, urgent action is required to combat climate change and its effects to ensure the sustainability of our environments and the safety of affected populations.
Original Source: www.ecns.cn
