Record Heat and Acidification Mark Tenth Copernicus Ocean Report
The tenth Copernicus Ocean State Report, released on September 30, 2026, warns that global oceans are transforming at an alarming rate. Data from over 40 years of satellites and buoys show that oceans absorbed a record 23 zettajoules of heat in 2025, equivalent to 40 times global energy consumption. Sea levels have risen by nearly 4 inches since 1999, with rates accelerating since 2012. Ocean acidity has increased by 17% since 1985, damaging marine ecosystems. A record-breaking El Niño is intensifying these trends, while European seas face extreme marine heatwaves and coastal erosion.