A new study published last week indicates that while the global atmosphere was the 4th warmest on record in 2018, the global oceans were the warmest ever, breaking records previously set in 2016 and 2017. With a new El Nino developing, 2019 could set a new record as well, but it’s too early to say at this point. The consequences of the warming include harm to coral and other sea life as well as migration of species towards the poles where water is cooler, melting of glaciers and ice sheets that empty into the sea, and rising sea levels. You can read more about how they determined the ocean temperatures and how they compare with predictions at Yahoo News here.
