Ocean temperatures reached a record high in May this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday. If the warmer ocean and air surface temperatures continue, 2023 will become the hottest year ever recorded.
In the US, temperatures averaged 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit in May, 2.2 degrees above average for that month.
Climate scientists anticipate that the current high temperatures might increase in the coming weeks, resulting in more powerful tropical storms and floods in coastal communities.
Warmer oceans melt Arctic ice, increasing sea levels and eroding coastlines. Marine life suffers the most. Just last week, tens of thousands of dead fish washed ashore along the Texas Gulf Coast, driven by a lack of oxygen in the warm water.