Joseph Prezioso | Afp | Getty ImagesThe world's ocean temperatures have climbed to their hottest level on record, according to data from the European Union's climate monitor, prompting scientists to warn of immediate and wide-ranging consequences for the planet. The surface temperature of the world's oceans would typically be expected to reach their highest in March rather than in August, sparking alarm among climate scientists. "The recent ocean warming is genuinely concerning," said Rowan Sutton, professor of climate science at the University of Reading. Sutton said that the latest sea surface temperature data showed that "we may be experiencing not just a record-breaking extreme event but a record-shattering one." The ocean heat record comes as part of a recent trend of extreme heat stretching across the globe, with this July poised to be recognized as the hottest month in history.

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Persons: Joseph Prezioso, Copernicus, Rowan Sutton, Sutton Organizations: Afp, Getty, University of Reading Locations: Key West , Florida, Martin County , Florida