3 days ago
European seaside destinations experience 'marine heatwave'
With summer in full swing and temperatures soaring across Europe, seaside destinations have experienced a 'marine heatwave'. Sea temperatures globally have been so high recently and July was the third-warmest on record, according to Mercator Ocean International.
The non-profit organization is part of the EU's Copernicus Marine Service and monitors the conditions of the ocean, while also providing forecasts. Analysis by the institute found around the world sea temperatures reached an average of 20.80°C.
It reached an 'unprecedented' temperature of 26.68°C, beating the previous high of 26.65°C in 2023. According to Monaco Life , areas of the western Mediterranean, including Spain, as well as the central basin close to Italy have seen soaring temperatures.
The European destinations have reportedly seen sea surface temperatures breaching 30°C. 'Strong or higher category marine heatwaves' hit 68% of the Mediterranean Sea in July, according to Mercator Ocean International.
There were other temperature spikes too, with 63% of the basin exceeding the long-term average by at least 1°C. Meanwhile 40% of the basin saw the heat exceed by at least 2°C.
Mercator Ocean International revealed how the western Mediterranean was the worst hit. There have been been plenty of on-land heatwaves too recently. Temperature records were recently broken in at least four weather stations in southern France.
The southwestern city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France.
The heatwave, the country's second this summer, began last Friday and was forecast to last possibly until August 19 or 20.
