Vacationers may be enjoying the warmth of summer in the Mediterranean, butclimate scientists say that marine life is blazing hot. It warns of disastrous consequences because it will burn you out. A series of heat waves.
From Barcelona to Tel Aviv, scientists say they are witnessing an anomalous temperature rise of 3 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal for this time of year. Depending on the day, the water temperature can regularly exceed 30°C.
While extreme heat in Europe and other Mediterranean countries made the headlines this summer, rising sea temperatures are largely invisible and oblivious.
Ocean heat waves are caused by ocean currents forming regions of warm water. Weather systems and atmospheric heat can also affect water temperature. And like heatwaves on land, ocean heatwaves are becoming longer, more frequent, and more intense because of human-induced climate change.
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The situation is "extremely worrying," says Joaquim Garrabou, a researcher at Barcelona's Marine Science Institute. . "We're pushing the system too far. We have to deal with the climate problem ASAP." Drought hits parts of England, with hot, dry weather continuing
Garabou recently published a report on the Mediterranean heatwave from 2015 to 2019, the team. The report says these phenomena led to "mass mortality" of marine species.
About 50 species, including corals, sponges and seaweeds, have been affected along thousands of kilometers of the Mediterranean coast, according to a study published in the journal Global Change Biology.
The situation in the eastern Mediterranean is particularly dire.
The waters off Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon and Syria are "arguably the hottest hotspot in the Mediterranean," says Gil Rylov, a marine biologist at Israel's Institute of Marine and Limnology. Stated. co-author. Average summer sea temperatures are now consistently above 31°C.
These warming oceans are pushing many native species to the brink.
What he and his colleagues are witnessing in terms of biodiversity loss is what is projected to happen further west in the Mediterranean toward Greece, Italy and Spain in the next few years. .
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Garaboo says the oceans absorb 90% of the Earth's excess heat and 30% of the carbon dioxide it emits. It is released into the atmosphere by the production of coal, oil and gas, which it points out is beneficial to the planet. This carbon-sinking effect protects the planet from the effects of even more severe climates.
This was possible because the seas and oceans were in a healthy state, said Garabou. I'm pushing," he said.
Reducing ocean warming will require significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, but marine scientists note that 30% of the oceans in particular come from human activities such as fishing. Seeking authorities to ensure that it is protected, which will give the species a chance to recover and thrive.
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The Mediterranean region is now protected.
Garrabou and Rilov said policymakers are largely unaware of Mediterranean warming and its impacts.
"Our job as scientists is to get them to think about it," said Rylov.
A heat wave occurs when the weather is particularly hot for a specific number of days with little rain or wind. Land heatwaves drive ocean heatwaves, and the two influence each other, tending to create a vicious cycle of warming.
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Land heat waves have become commonplace in many countries around the Mediterranean, causing wildfires, droughts and crop failures.
However, marine heatwaves, if not dealt with immediately, could have devastating consequences for the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the more than 500 million people who live there. People could also be severely affected, scientists say.As devastating storms could become more common on land, fish stocks could be depleted and tourism could be adversely affected.
Despite occupying less than 1% of the world's ocean surface area, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the major reservoirs of marine biodiversity, containing 4 of the world's known marine species. Contains % to 18%.
Some of the most impacted species are key to maintaining marine habitat function and diversity. Species such as Posidonia Oceanica seagrass meadows, which absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide and protect marine life, and coral reefs, which are also habitats for wildlife, can be endangered.
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Garrabou describes the recorded marine heatwaves on the surface and at a depth of 45 meters (about 150 feet). states that mortality effects on species have been observed. was exceptional. The heat wave affected more than 90% of the surface of the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the latest scientific paper, the sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean Sea has increased by 0.4 C per decade from 1982 to 2018. On an annual basis, it has risen by about 0.05 C over the past decade and shows no sign of giving up.
Even very low temperatures can have devastating effects on ocean health, experts say. covers most of the Mediterranean Sea, the study suggests.
"The question is not about the survival of nature, because biodiversity finds a way to survive on Earth," says Garabou. Told. "The problem is that if we continue in this direction, perhaps our society, the human being, will have no place to live."
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