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Intense heatwave in the Mediterranean Sea raises fears for marine life

2025-07-12 09:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Intense heatwave in the Mediterranean Sea raises fears for marine life

Warmer water on the coast may seem pleasant to you on vacation, but the heat has been so intense that scientists fear potentially devastating consequences for marine life.

Sea surface temperatures regularly exceeded 30 degrees Celsius off the coast of Mallorca and in late June and early July, in places six or seven degrees above normal.

It was the most extreme marine heatwave ever recorded in the western Mediterranean for this time of year, affecting large areas of the sea for weeks.

The heat appears to be cooling off, but some species simply find it difficult to cope with such prolonged and intense heat, with potential negative effects on fish stocks.

Sea temperatures of 30°C or higher are not unprecedented in the Mediterranean in late summer.

But they are highly unusual for June, according to data from the European Climate Service Copernicus, Mercator Ocean International and measurements in Spanish ports. Marine heatwaves are becoming more intense and longer as humanity continues to release planet-warming gases into our atmosphere, mainly by burning coal, oil and gas.

In fact, the number of days with extreme sea surface heat globally has tripled over the past 80 years, according to a study published earlier this year.

The Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable because it is a bit like a bathtub, mostly surrounded by continents rather than open ocean.

This means the water can't escape easily, so its surface heats up quickly in the presence of warm air, sunny skies and light winds - as happened in June. For this reason, the Mediterranean is "a climate change hotspot," said Karina von Schuckmann of Mercator Ocean International./ CNA





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