Swimmers dive into the Mediterranean Sea, where rapid warming has caused ocean temperatures in the region to soar to unprecedented levels over the past year, according to scientists. (File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA-EFE)
Aug. 4 (UPI) — New climate data from the European Union’s leading marine observer reveals the alarming impact of rapid warming on the Mediterranean Sea. Over the past year, ocean temperatures in the region have reached unprecedented levels, with significant consequences for marine ecosystems. Marine heat waves experienced in the summer of 2022 not only threaten vital ecosystems but also signal a potential increase in extreme weather events, according to a report by Copernicus Marine Service, the EU’s environmental monitor for the Space Program.
The report, titled “Record-Breaking Marine Heatwaves in the Mediterranean and Safeguarding Marine Ecosystems,” emphasizes the alarming disruption caused by the heat wave to marine life. As humans continue to produce excessive heat through carbon emissions, Earth’s oceans have absorbed approximately 90% of this excess heat. This absorption has led to serious consequences, including thermal stress and bleaching events for vulnerable species such as coral reefs, exotic fish, and microscopic organisms. The decline in overall sea life further amplifies these concerns.
In its natural role of regulating the planet’s temperature, the ocean absorbs and distributes heat through ocean currents, maintaining the Earth’s overall coolness. However, scientists note that planetary heating over the past two decades has resulted in warmer seas and hotter air in the atmosphere. Consequently, this has led to various detrimental effects, including the thinning of ice shelves and disruptions to natural habitats and food chains worldwide.
The report highlights that since summer 2022, marine scientists have observed multiple record-breaking heat waves in the Mediterranean region. Satellite records over the past 40 years indicate that the Mediterranean has warmed at a faster rate than the global average. The occurrence of marine heat waves, characterized by prolonged periods of higher-than-normal ocean temperatures, has become more frequent in the 21st century.
A recent analysis by World Weather Attribution suggests that extreme temperatures experienced in July are indicative of worsening climate change. Heat waves, once rare, are now at least 50 times more likely in the modern world. Additionally, a report from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change attributes the continuous heating of the Earth’s surface and oceans for over half a century to carbon emissions.
NASA reports that the past decade has been the warmest on record since the first Industrial Revolution, further raising concerns among climate experts. In July, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health reported 61,672 deaths attributed to excessive heat from May to September 2022, as temperatures remained consistently above average throughout the summer. Sweltering conditions persist globally, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting the continuation of extreme temperatures through September and potentially into late fall and the start of winter. Meteorologists have also warned of a potential El Nino event, which could further prolong extreme temperatures and lead to additional heat records worldwide.
