China sees average temperature in coastal waters hit a record high

The average temperature in China's coastal waters has reached a record high, reflecting the global trend of rising ocean temperatures, the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center has said.

The average sea surface temperature in China's coastal waters reached 21.50 C in 2024, increasing for the second consecutive year. This is 0.15 C higher than in 2023 and 1.16 C above the typical annual average, according to data announced by the center on Friday.

Meanwhile, the global sea surface temperature in 2024 also reached a record high of 20.87 C, making it the warmest year for ocean waters in modern observational history, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU climate monitoring agency.

The warming of the oceans is leading to more frequent extreme weather and climate-related events, the center said.

According to another report also released on Friday, in 2024, a total of 104 countries reported their highest temperatures ever recorded, with extensive extreme weather events such as widespread droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires affecting South Africa, South Asia, the Philippines, Brazil, Europe, and the northeastern United States.

The report, led by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was collaboratively conducted by 54 scientists from 31 research institutions worldwide.