Ocean heat record broken and experts fear temperatures could rise even further

The average surface temperature of the world’s oceans has hit its highest-ever level reaching 20.96C this week, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

It broke the record of 20.95C set in 2016 and scientists say it is likely that the record will continue to be broken as temperatures are usually highest in March, not August.

It follows a pattern of marine heatwaves and record sea surface temperatures around the world.

The Mediterranean Sea recorded its highest-ever surface temperature last week at 28.71C. Waters around the Florida Keys were similar to the temperature of a hot tub, hitting highs of just over 38C and possibly breaking a world record.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also reported last Friday that the North Atlantic may be the hottest it has ever been. And it's getting hotter much earlier in the year with previous records set in September.

The IPCC says that marine heatwaves doubled in frequency between 1982 and 2016. Since the 1980s, they’ve also become longer and more intense.

Experts warn this could have devastating consequences for the health of the planet.

The North Atlantic usually begins to warm up in March after winter and reaches its peak in September. But records have continuously been broken since April this year.

And the NOAA says that the North Atlantic is only going to get hotter “through the month of August”. It's highly likely that the record will be broken again.

Global average sea surface temperature has been “well above” the values previously seen at this time of year, according to C3S. The climate change service says that the high sea surface temperatures contributed to the exceptionally warm July seen around the world.

The high temperatures are likely