Why are ocean temperatures rising so rapidly worldwide?

The Earth is getting warmer because we're adding more heat to the oceans like putting extra blankets on a sleeping puppy.

Imagine the ocean as a big bathtub full of water, that's you and your siblings playing in the bath every night. Now, think of carbon dioxide (a gas) as the extra blanket you throw on top when it gets chilly outside. Every time we use cars, turn on lights, or burn wood, we're making more of this carbon dioxide, which wraps around the Earth like a cozy blanket and keeps the heat from escaping.

The ocean acts like a big sponge, it soaks up all that extra heat. But just like you can only hold so many toys in your hands, the ocean can't take in all that heat forever. It's like when you're playing with too many toys at once, you get overwhelmed and start to feel hot.

This is why we're seeing ocean temperatures rise so fast, it’s like the sponge is getting squeezed more and more each day, and it can’t stretch as much anymore.