In early April 2026, global sea surface temperatures in the 60°S-60°N band hit unprecedented highs.

The new peak is 0.7°C above the 1982-2010 baseline, surpassing previous extreme records from 2023 and 2024.

Mainstream climate scientists attribute the long-term ocean warming baseline to human greenhouse gas emissions.

Retained heat from past El Niño events adds to this spike, with a 62% chance of another forming by mid-2026.

Some researchers and skeptics argue that natural ocean heat pulses drive these recent short-term anomalies.

Alternative theories suggest that deep geological and geothermal processes may precede atmospheric CO2 increases.

Critics highlight that atmospheric CO2 accumulation rates remained unchanged during the 2020 global lockdowns.

Regardless of the exact mix of causes, extreme ocean heat disrupts marine biology and alters weather patterns.

Resolving these debates requires rigorous, verified observation to accurately forecast regional climate impacts.