As extreme heatwaves are engulfing countries around the Mediterranean, some lucky vacationers have found respite on the shores of this iconic basin. However, scientists have just warned that the rising sea temperature is also out of sight and out of mind.
Scientists say they are witnessing extraordinary temperature rises ranging from 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 Fahrenheit) to 5 degrees Celsius (9 Fahrenheit) above the usual rates for this time of year. According to the recently published report on heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea between 2015 and 2019, water temperatures have regularly exceeded 30 C (86 F).
The report suggests that marine heatwaves, which are gaining far less attention and research than heatwaves on land, are becoming longer, more frequent, and more intense because of human-induced climate change.
The marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean are endangering nearly 50 species, including corals, sponges, and seaweed, along thousands of kilometres of Mediterranean coast. According to the study, which was published in the Global Change Biology journal, the situation in the eastern Mediterranean basin is dire.
Marine heatwaves are not confined to the Mediterranean. They have also been observed in the Pacific Ocean, South Atlantic, and even the Arctic. However, its effect on the Mediterranean can be quite significant.
The Mediterranean Sea, which occupies an area of approximately 2,510,000 square km (970,000 square miles) has a highly diverse marine ecosystem, which hosts around 4-18 per cent of the world’s marine biodiversity.
The longer marine heatwaves can be a deadly threat to the idyllic Mediterranean tranquility and beauty, marine diversity, and beautiful culture that provided a perfect environment for relaxing holidays for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the new environmental threat is adding to the Mediterranean woes, which include receiving an estimated 730 tonnes of plastic waste every day, alien species attack, and over-fishing.
The increasing threats to the Mediterranean are just mirroring the increased threats against humanity as the sea, which stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the west, to the Asian continent on the east, and separates Europe from Africa is already an important part of humanity’s history. It’s a cradle of civilisations that played a major role in the communication of the peoples around it. It’s very difficult indeed to imagine a history of the world without thinking of the Egyptian, Hellenistic and Roman civilisations around the Mediterranean.
While no one exactly knows the reason for ancient Egyptians called it the Great Green, it can be easily connected to the nature of the basin on its eastern side, where shallow spots invite seaweed to take up residence and can support tall plants.
The sea, which was a medium for transferring goods, cultures, and powers, can stand today as a venue for the struggle against the destructive effects of global warming. However, in order to succeed in these efforts, a deeper understanding of ocean acidification with other ongoing rapid changes is therefore crucial. More search is needed to support global policy processes, particularly those related to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
As risks posed by warming are expected to become more acute, policymakers need to plan a strategy to achieve drastic measures that can reconcile socio-economic development with environmental capacity. The only good thing about the marine heatwaves is that they just can be treated with the same measures needed for abating on land extreme waves.
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