Climate change main driver of European ocean warming

Scientists have determined that climate change is the primary cause of rising ocean temperatures in Europe, with the Mediterranean experiencing a significant 2°C increase this summer, according to a recent study. The warming effect extends to other European seas, with the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group estimating an additional 1.3°C-1.4°C warming in Western European waters.

This warming is attributed to the continued burning of fossil fuels, according to Thomas Frolicher, an environmental physicist at the University of Bern, Switzerland. The study, conducted by WWA researchers, combined observational data and climate model simulations to arrive at its conclusions. The impacts of this warming are far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, coastal fisheries, and even terrestrial environments due to increased humidity in coastal areas.

Marine ecologist John Bruno emphasized that even a small temperature rise can be devastating for marine organisms, with coral reefs already showing signs of stress. Some species are shifting to cooler waters, disrupting food chains and affecting fisheries. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that ocean temperatures hit record highs for the second consecutive month in July, with some Mediterranean areas experiencing sea surface temperatures more than 6°C above normal.

Climate change has driven marine heatwaves to spread across a larger portion of European regions, with 90% of the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast region and 80% of the Western Mediterranean experiencing heatwaves this year. Without human-caused warming, only around 40% of these areas would have been affected. While warmer waters may seem appealing for swimming in cooler countries, the impacts on marine life are far more severe.