Global average sea surface temperatures reached an unprecedented level last June. The North Atlantic Ocean experienced exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures with several extreme sea heat waves. These were linked to short-term changes in atmospheric circulation and long-term changes in the ocean, according to analysis by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S*). So far this year, discussions about our oceans and climate have focused mainly on the onset of the El Niño phenomenon, which recently declared by the World Meteorological Organization , and its potential to push global temperatures into “uncharted territory” by the end of 2023 and into 2024. But in reality, we’ve already entered uncharted territory due to exceptionally warm conditions in the North Atlantic Ocean. (