Global ocean temperatures remained unusually high in April as climate experts tracked signs of a developing El Nino pattern that could influence weather conditions across several parts of the world, including India.
According to data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and cited by Hindustan Times, the average global sea surface temperature (SST) in April touched 21 degree Celsius, making it the second-warmest April for oceans on record. The only warmer April was in 2024, when the average SST reached 21.04 degree during an intense period of ocean warming.
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El Nino signals strengthen
Climate models indicate that El Nino conditions may develop between May and July this year and could grow into one of the strongest events recorded in recent years.
El Nino is a climate pattern linked to warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It usually occurs every two to seven years and can last for up to a year.
The latest data showed unusually warm waters stretching from the central equatorial Pacific to the western coasts of the United States and Mexico; a key sign associated with the development of El Nino.
Impact on India
In India, El Nino conditions are generally linked to hotter summers and weaker monsoon rainfall. Scientists are already observing warmer-than-normal sea temperatures across large parts of the North Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
The dataset also pointed to extremely high surface temperatures across parts of Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
Despite the broader warming trend, temperatures over northwest India have remained relatively mild so far, with frequent thunderstorm activity recorded during May.
Rising global temperatures
The climate report also highlighted that global air temperatures in April were the third-highest ever recorded for the month. The average global air temperature stood at 14.89 degrees, which was 1.43 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
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Regional weather patterns varied across Europe. Southwestern Europe experienced warmer-than-average conditions, with Spain recording its hottest April on record, while eastern Europe remained cooler than normal.
Meanwhile, Arctic sea ice extent dropped to its second-lowest level ever recorded for April, continuing the trend of shrinking ice cover observed since the beginning of the year.
