A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences has found that ocean warming in 2024 has led to new record high temperatures. The ocean is the hottest it has ever been recorded by humans, not only at the surface temperature but also for the upper 2000 meters.

Ocean temperatures crossed into an average of around 66.5 degrees Fahrenheit, almost half a degree higher than last year, in an exponential increase from decades prior.

Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded 1.5 Celsius above the pre-industrial era for the first time, bringing the world closer to breaching the pledge governments made under the 2015 Paris climate agreement,

Sea water, in theory, could be used to help a fire. But, its salty components can do more harm than good, which is why firefighters typically avoid using it unless absolutely necessary. Salt is corrosive, and it can damage metal equipment, including critical equipment in water dumping planes and fire pumps.

With Southern California ablaze, the lack of water leaves many wondering, why not use ocean water to combat fires?

The recent and still-raging Los Angeles wildfires have prompted some online to wonder: Can we use ocean water to fight fires? While the Pacific Ocean sits adjacent to the city of Los Angeles, several factors render its use in firefighting impractical and even potentially harmful.