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Record Mediterranean temperatures: Sea water soars to 30 degrees
The warming of the waters off the coast of Spain threatens the entire marine ecosystem
Chances of a refreshing dip during those sweltering days at the beach are becoming more and more unlikely, at least if you’re on Spain’s vast Mediterranean coast.
In just the past few days, water temperatures have soared to an unbelievable 28.67°C, according to Justino Martinez, a researcher at the Institut de Ciències del Mar in Barcelona. This nearly matches the all-time high of 28.71°C set on July 24, 2023.
These scorching temperatures, measured by satellite data from the European Copernicus Observatory, highlight the Mediterranean basin as a critical hotspot in the ongoing battle against global warming.
Amazingly, for the second consecutive year, the waters have surpassed the previous record of 28.25°C set on August 23 of 2003, during an exceptional heatwave that brought Spain to its knees.
"What is remarkable is not so much reaching a maximum on a given day, but rather experiencing a long period of high temperatures, even if a record is not being broken," said Martinez.
"Since 2022, surface temperatures have been abnormally high for long periods of time, even in the context of climate change," he added.
This year, the 2023 level was reached more than two weeks later, but the Mediterranean Sea temperatures are now expected to begin their gradual decline as August comes to an end.
In coastal areas of Spain, France and Italy, the water has reached an unusual 30°C, a full 4°C above the norm for this time of year. This kind of heat has serious implications for marine life, potentially disrupting ecosystems, affecting fish stocks and even jeopardising food security in certain regions.
According to the experts, the oceans have absorbed 90% of the excess heat generated by human activity since the industrial era began. This excess heat continues to accumulate in the form of greenhouse gas, mainly from the burning of oil, gas and coal.
But as ocean temperatures rise, their ability to absorb carbon dioxide diminishes, further exacerbating the global warming cycle.
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Image: Alacoolwiki via Wikimedia Commons
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