This energy imbalance surged to a record 23 zettajoules last year, representing more than double the historic average documented over the preceding two decades.
Consequently, oceanic warming continues to experience rapid acceleration.
In 2020, the thermal energy entering marine environments equaled roughly five Hiroshima bomb explosions every second, a metric that climbed toward 11 explosions per second last year.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres previously expressed deep concern regarding these trends. "Earth is being pushed beyond its limits," Guterres warned.
Scientists noted that determining whether this marine heating trend will stabilize or escalate remains difficult, given that annual peaks usually occur in July and August.
However, Carlo Buontempo, the director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, indicated this could signal a transition into highly unpredictable environmental territory.
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"With ocean temperatures at these levels and El Niño on the horizon, we are likely to see more temperature records fall in the coming months," Buontempo stated.
