The planet has a new temperature record, and this time it was set by the oceans.

Global temperatures reached record highs in July, driven by unprecedented heat in ocean surface temperatures outside of polar regions. Data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates that these maritime records coincided with a broader period of extreme heat affecting various parts of the globe.

Simultaneously, Europe is experiencing a secondary heat wave in early August following the record-breaking temperatures of July. This ongoing heat, combined with widespread drought conditions, has caused major rivers across the continent to reach historically low levels, particularly in Western Europe.