Ocean Temperatures Reach Record High in July

Why it matters locally: Texas, with its extensive coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, is vulnerable to the effects of rising ocean temperatures, which can exacerbate hurricane intensity and impact marine ecosystems vital to the state's fishing and tourism industries.

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Global oceans registered their warmest July on record. This temperature increase occurred as meteorologists noted developing El Niño conditions. Simultaneously, wildfires continued to affect areas of western Europe during the same period.