Sea Surface Temperature Rise and El Niño Event
In August 2023, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported unprecedented global sea surface temperature (SST) increases, with July 2023 being the hottest month on record. JAXA’s Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) series has observed a consistent rise in SSTs since 2002, with 2023 showing record highs each month. Notably, the eastern equatorial Pacific exhibited SSTs 2–3°C above average, indicating an ongoing El Niño event. This warming has significantly impacted Japan, particularly in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions, where SSTs were over 5°C above normal, contributing to record-breaking heatwaves.
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