Scientists warn the world’s oceans may have entered a new, hotter phase with serious consequences for the planet.

The world’s oceans may have crossed a critical threshold. Following a record-breaking year of marine heatwaves in 2023, scientists now fear the planet's seas have shifted into a prolonged, hotter state, one that could represent a dangerous “new normal.”

New research reveals that nearly 96% of the ocean surface experienced extreme heat last year, with some marine heatwaves lasting well over 12 months. The North Atlantic and Southwest Pacific saw sea surface temperatures soar to historic highs.

While climate change and the El Niño event that emerged in 2023 contributed to the spike, researchers say those factors alone can’t explain the sudden and severe surge. A new study by scientists from China, the U.S., and Thailand points to reduced cloud cover, weaker winds, and shifting ocean currents as the likely culprits that allowed excess solar radiation to warm the waters at an alarming rate.

“What worries us,” said lead author Zhenzhong Zeng of the Southern University of Science and Technology, “is the possibility that ocean heat is now rising exponentially, something not predicted by current climate models.”

Scientists warn that if this transition is permanent, it could destabilise marine ecosystems, amplify weather extremes, and accelerate sea level rise. 

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