The Mediterranean Sea is becoming hotter as temperatures surge. Climate scientists are now warning of the grave effects of this on marine biodiversity unless corrective measures are taken swiftly.
Mediterranean Sea
In a report released in the journal Global Change Biology, researchers revealed their observations of rises in water temperatures to levels that were higher than usual. Temperature levels have repeatedly gone beyond 30 degrees Celsius (or 86 degrees Fahrenheit) on some days, they said.
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Joaquim Garrabou, who was part of the study, described the conditions as “very worrying.”
“We are pushing the system too far,” said the researcher at Barcelona’s Institute of Marine Sciences. “We have to take action on the climate issues as soon as possible.”
The swiftly-warming Mediterranean Sea might not come as a surprise to some people, however. High heat levels have been reported in countries in its vicinity, including in Europe, this summer.
In this new research, scientists examined heat wave events in the Mediterranean Sea in the period from 2015 to 2019.
Warming sea
Heat waves result when unusually hot weather persists for several days with little wind or rain. The occurrence of these on land has an impact on marine environments – and vice versa – in an endless loop of warming.
Marine heat waves occur from areas of warm water being built up by ocean currents. Water heat levels also increase as a result of atmospheric temperature.
As in the case of land heat waves, marine heat waves are becoming more and more worrisome. They have become more frequent, longer, and more extreme as a result of climate change.
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The world’s seas have been helping to absorb 90 percent of the planet’s excess heat, according to Garrabou. They also take up 30 percent of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions from the production and use of coal, oil, and gas. As such, oceans and seas help greatly in protecting the earth against harsher climates.
The story is now changing for the worse. Garrabou noted that the ocean has now been driven to “an unhealthy and dysfunctional state.”
Research in recent years shows that the Mediterranean Sea’s surface temperature increased by 0.4 degrees Celsius every decade between 1982 and 2018. Scientists also say temperatures have been rising by about 0.05 degrees Celsius each year over the last 10 years. There is no sign of things improving soon without due intervention and just a little increase can have terrible effects.
Researchers who worked on this new report indicated that the warming condition was, in particular, severe around the Mediterranean’s eastern basin. Marine biologist Gil Rilov, a co-author of the paper, revealed that areas around Israel, Cyprus, Syria, and Lebanon were the hottest. Average summer temperatures are now regularly higher than 31 degrees Celsius.
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Serious consequences
Scientists warn of grave effects on marine species as a result of the rising heat levels. Although the Mediterranean accounts for less than one percent of the world’s total ocean surface area, it boasts impressive marine biodiversity. It is home to 4-18 percent of marine species that are known in the world, as per researchers.
Tourism will be impacted negatively as well and over 500 million people living around the Mediterranean may not be spared. Damaging storms on land could become more frequent.
What’s more worrying about the marine biodiversity loss is that certain beneficial species would be affected. A warmer Mediterranean puts species such as the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows in danger. These help to maintain functional, diverse habitats by absorbing carbon dioxide and preventing coral reef damage.
According to the report, around 50 species were impacted along the coasts of the Mediterranean. Among these were sponges, corals, and seaweed.
Garrabou and his fellow researchers stated that warming seas are threatening many native species because temperatures are rising beyond the optimum every summer.
The observed rising water temperatures call for urgent measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond that, marine scientists also want relevant authorities to ensure that 30 percent of the sea’s areas are protected from fishing and other human activities.
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Currently, only roughly eight percent of the area covered by the Mediterranean is protected. Countries such as Italy, Greece, and Spain are expected to witness significant marine biodiversity loss in years ahead if nothing is done about the situation.
The researchers noted that most policymakers are not aware that the sea is getting warmer. Unsurprisingly, they are not well-informed about the consequences. Scientists, therefore, have a duty to draw their attention to the situation.
References
Marine heatwaves drive recurrent mass mortalities in the Mediterranean Sea
