Alarming heat wave in the Mediterranean: does it endanger the sea world?
Alarming heat wave in the Mediterranean: does it endanger the sea world?
Westliches Mittelmeer, Mittelmeerraum - In the western Mediterranean, an extreme heat wave has pushed the temperatures to the limits. According to the meteorologist Fabian Ruhnau von Kachelmann weather, the surface temperatures are more than five degrees Celsius above the long -term average. These extraordinary values are not typical for this time of year, which clearly noted a bathing guest in Marseille: "It should be cooler at this time of year". This situation is confirmed by satellite cards of the Copernicus Straw observation service, which do not indicate any higher deviations. The catalysts of this phenomenon are diverse and affect not only the temperatures, but also the entire marine ecology.
The Spanish Center for Marine Research (Ceam) points out that the Balearic Sea has been in an almost permanent marine heat wave (MHW) since November 2024. The local conditions are classified as "extreme", and this has serious effects on marine ecosystems, especially for heat -sensitive species such as corals. The changed sea conditions also mean that many depth distributed organisms, such as corals and Gorgonia, withdraw or even disappear into warmer waters. This not only endangers biodiversity, but also has consequences for food supply and leisure activities, for example through fishing and tourism.
episodes for marine ecosystems
The Mediterranean ecosystems have changed significantly in recent decades due to climate change. Populations of marine organisms in flatter, warmer waters have disappeared, which has led to local extinction of many species. This replaces the rocky soil, which is necessary for corals and Gorgonia, with soft floors such as sand and gravel. These developments sometimes have irreversible effects on marine biodiversity.
marine heat waves, which are characterized by a long -lasting water temperature, not only lead to an increase in mortality in organisms that already live at the top of their temperature range, but also affect primary production. This in turn reduces food availability, which leads to dramatic consequences for the entire ecosystem. Key species such as corals are particularly affected and often cannot recover from heat waves for years, a risk that the World Biodiversity Council estimates: In the event of global warming, 70 to 90 percent of the corals could be lost.
effects on weather conditions
The increased sea temperatures not only influence the marine flora and fauna, but also the weather dynamics over the mainland. An increase of one degree Celsius causes a seven percent higher water vapor capacity of the air, which can favor heavy rain events. This connection was documented in the Copernicus annual report, which shows a 4.9 percent increase in the total water vapor amount in the atmosphere since the comparison period from 1991 to 2020. Comparative values from 2016 and 2023 are significantly lower, which is 2024 an extreme weather year in Europe, characterized by strong floods in regions such as Valencia and Lower Austria.
While the challenges that the marine bring heat waves with them are becoming increasingly pressing, the first step to save the ecosystems in the Mediterranean is clear: a stop of irrational growth and greenhouse gas emissions is essential. Without measures to reduce emissions, further efforts to preserve marine ecosystems are ineffective. Local initiatives, such as reducing uncontrolled coastal development and overfishing, as well as the creation of well -managed marine protection areas, important steps to improve the resilience of marine ecosystems can be.
The reports and scientific studies underline the need for long-term monitoring of ecosystems in order to precisely assess the effects of climate change and to develop effective management and maintenance strategies.
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| Ort | Westliches Mittelmeer, Mittelmeerraum |
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