With El Nino conditions maturing in the coming months, April 2026 saw the second-highest sea surface temperatures in record for the extra-polar oceans, while the month ranked as the joint third-warmest April globally, the European Union's climate monitoring network reported Friday.
The average sea surface temperature of the global ocean between 60 degrees south latitude and 60 degrees north latitude reached some 21 degrees Celsius -- second only to April 2024, when the last El Nino event drove record warmth, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
Large parts of the tropical Pacific experienced record-breaking temperatures for the month, accompanied by strong marine heatwaves, it said.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, El Nino is characterized by a warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific. It typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts around nine to 12 months, affecting temperatures and rainfall patterns in different regions and generally exerting a warming effect on the global climate.
Meanwhile, global average surface air temperature for April 2026 stood at 14.89 degrees Celsius, 0.52 degrees above the 1991-2020 average and 1.43 degrees above pre-industrial levels, the C3S said.
April 2026 added to the clear signals of sustained global warmth, said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the C3S.
2nd-highest extra-polar sea surface temperatures recorded in April
Chicago youth said the United States should not view China as its No.1 enemy and the two countries should have more technological exchanges.
The youth expressed themselves in random street interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
They said there are competitions between China and the U.S., but China is doing a great job of building their cities.
"China is doing a good job with how it's handling the U.S. given the volatility of the government here," said a local resident.
"We're definitely in competition economically speaking," said another interviewee.
"I don't think there's necessarily a reason why they have to then be enemy number one in that sense. They're doing a great job kind of building up their cities. I think we have a lot to learn from them," said still another interviewee.
In terms of China's technological advancement, the interviewees said China's automobile industry is developing at a rapid pace and they are looking forward to seeing more Chinese cars in the U.S. and more technological exchanges between two sides.
"Chinese vehicles, I would love to see them in the U.S. I think they're miles ahead in terms of production and cost and especially electronic vehicles," said an interviewee.
"Probably some more Chinese cars here. Really cheap, really great cars from what I hear and what I saw when I was there," said another interviewee.
"I feel like there's a lot to learn like technology-wise. I feel like the U.S. kind of holds itself back," said still another interviewee.
Random street interviews catch Chicago youth's impression on China
