The global climate continued its warming trend as the planet recorded its fourth-warmest March in 2026, with temperatures 1.48°C above the pre-industrial (1850–1900) average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The report also highlighted that sea surface temperatures were the second warmest on record, contributing significantly to overall global warming. Scientists warn that such unusually warm ocean conditions could lead to a likely transition toward El Niño conditions in the near future.
El Niño is a climate pattern associated with the warming of central and eastern Pacific Ocean waters, often resulting in extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, and altered rainfall patterns across the globe.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service operates under the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme, which provides reliable climate data to support adaptation and mitigation policies of the European Union. It is one of six thematic services designed to deliver authoritative information on climate change.
![](https://www.gstimes.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MARCH-2024-GS-TIMES-1ADD.jpg")
