March sets 10th-straight monthly heat record

March marked the 10th month in a row in which Earth experienced record-high temperatures, according to the European Union’s climate agency Copernicus. Both the air and ocean temperatures reached their highest levels ever recorded for the month.

The average global temperature reached 14.14 degrees Celsius (57.9 degrees Fahrenheit) over the month. This surpassed the record set in 2016 by one-tenth of a degree, the agency reported.

The new data only adds to climate concerns, in a year already defined by extreme weather events and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The world has experience record-breaking heat every month since June.

According to Copernicus data, the Earth has now encountered 12 consecutive months with average monthly temperatures surpassing the Paris threshold by 1.58 degrees Celsius (2.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

In March, the global sea surface temperature averaged 21.07 degrees Celsius (69.93 degrees Fahrenheit), marking the highest monthly value recorded and slightly exceeding February’s temperature.

The Copernicus agency said the El Niño weather pattern, which warms the sea surface in the Pacific Ocean, continued to weaken in March.

Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist Jennifer Francis told The Associated Press that El Niño’s “combination with the non-natural marine heat waves made these records so breathtaking.”