As global temperatures rise, so do sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and that’s having a direct impact on hurricane activity.

Hurricanes are essentially heat engines, fueled by the warmth of the ocean. When SSTs reach at least 80 degrees, they provide the energy needed to power up a storm.

Warm water evaporates into the atmosphere, and as that moisture condenses into clouds, it releases heat that helps the storm grow and intensify. The warmer the water, the more fuel is available and the more intense a storm can become.

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This is one of the reasons why, in recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of rapidly intensifying hurricanes. This is when storms increase by 35 mph in 24 hours or less.

On the flip side, cooler SSTs or waters stirred up by previous storms (which can bring deeper, colder water to the surface) tend to weaken or suppress hurricane development. Additionally, dry air over cooler waters can prevent thunderstorms from organizing at all.

This is why ocean temperatures are closely monitored during hurricane season. Even a small increase in SSTs can significantly raise the potential for stronger, more frequent storms.

But these warmer oceans are not just feeding storms; they’re a clear symptom of climate change. The oceans absorb over 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, causing long-term warming of the sea surface.

This warming doesn’t just supercharge storms; it also alters weather patterns, disrupts marine ecosystems and reduces the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, further accelerating global warming.

In this way, SSTs are both a driver and a consequence of climate change, making them one of the most closely watched indicators of how our planet, and our weather, is changing.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.