News Climate

Three reasons why the ocean’s record-breaking hot streak is devastating

Global sea surface temperatures have hit record highs every day for more than 12 months

A scuba diver swims over a coral reef. Many of the individuals corals are pale white, from bleaching.

Bleaching is afflicting many of the corals in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, some of which can be seen in this photo taken on April 5, 2024.

David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

By Nikk Ogasa

Earth’s largest ecosystem is broiling. Every day for the last 12 months, the average temperature of most of the sea’s surface has been the highest ever recorded on that calendar date, preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show.