The record set this summer

The waters of the Mediterranean Sea set a new temperature record this summer (2024).

On 15 August, the median sea surface temperature rose to 28.9°C. On the Egyptian coast at El-Arish, it reached a maximum of 31.96°C.

The previous record was set last year, with a median temperature of 28.7°C measured on 24 July 2023.

These data come from the Copernicus European Observatory’s maritime service satellites and were communicated to Agence France Presse (AFP) by Justino Martinez, a researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM) in Barcelona and the Catalan institute Icatmar.

To get an idea of the trend, it should be noted that since the 1980s, the Mediterranean has been warming by an average of 0.4°C per decade.

The cause: human activity

The warming of the seas and oceans is directly linked to global warming caused by greenhouse gases emitted by human activities, in particular the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal).

Consequences for the marine environment

The overheating of the Mediterranean Sea is encouraging invasive species and is having a major impact on fish, molluscs, coral and marine plants. Some seagrass beds and coral have declined or even disappeared completely in certain areas.

Consequences for rainfall

The overheating of the sea inevitably leads to greater evaporation of water and therefore more intense rainfall.

Understanding and taking action

This record temperature is another in a long list of alarming findings linked to global warming. Understanding these mechanisms and taking action to mitigate the impact of human activities are two key issues that need to be addressed in the education of students, so that they become critical and responsible citizens. By developing and testing video-based educational activities, the BTheChange project aims to contribute to the resources and strategies for such training.

Source:

“La Méditerranée surchauffe, la température médiane des eaux frôle les 29 °C”, Le Monde, 16 August 2024.

“La Méditerranée en surchauffe : les impacts du changement climatique déjà irréversibles pour la vie marine et humaine”, WWF, Press release, 8 June 2021.