June 2025 is the 3rd warmest June for the global Ocean following 2023 and 2024
Marine heatwaves continue to intensify and expand, with June 2025 breaking records for sea surface temperatures and heatwave extent across Europe and the global ocean. Intense heatwaves are impacting 62% of the Mediterranean. While some regions show signs of easing, others remain under severe thermal stress. Key Highlights In the Mediterranean Sea, June 2025 was […]
Assessing the Ocean in 2024
A recap of the main highlights of the year for sea surface temperature, marine heatwave events and sea ice extent and volume. Ocean Temperature Sea Surface Temperature The mean sea surface temperature (SST) across the global ocean was higher than any previous year from January to July 2024, resulting in an annual mean of 20.95°C […]
2023 was an unusual year for sea ice extent. What to expect from this season’s Arctic and Antarctic sea ice?
This time of year, maximum and minimum sea ice coverage is expected in the Arctic and in the Antarctic, respectively. At opposite seasonal cycles, the north and south poles reach their freezing and melting peaks every year between February and March. Scientists at Mercator Ocean International (MOi) have been monitoring seasonal sea ice changes using […]
El Niño Update November 2023
An El Niño event has been underway since spring 2023. Conditions have been gaining strength, and as of mid-November, these are still observed in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The evolution of El Niño remains uncertain, but it is likely that it will shortly peak and end in the coming Northern Hemisphere spring. This bulletin details […]