A severe marine heatwave sweeping across the Mediterranean has triggered serious concerns among scientists about its impact on marine ecosystems. Driven by the human-induced climate crisis, these underwater heatwaves are becoming more intense, frequent, and long-lasting.
Since late June, sea surface temperatures off the coast of Mallorca have repeatedly surpassed 30°C (86°F), a level typically not seen until much later in the summer. Portugal’s maritime authority confirmed that the southern Algarve experienced a marine heatwave between 28 June and 9 July, with some waters registering temperatures a staggering 5°C above the 20-year average.
Experts say this is the western Mediterranean’s most extreme marine heatwave ever recorded for this time of year. The implications for marine life are profound: prolonged high temperatures can deplete the energy reserves of sea creatures, leading to mass die-offs. Some species, pushed to their limits, enter a survival mode where reproduction halts entirely—disrupting delicate oceanic food chains.
This alarming trend adds another layer to the growing evidence that climate change is reshaping marine environments at a pace faster than many species can adapt. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Jacek_Sopotnicki/Getty Images/iStockPhoto