Posted on 08/17/22
| News Source: i24
In the eastern Mediterranean basin – Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Syria – the situation is particularly dire
From Spain to Israel, climate scientists are warning of dire consequences for marine life in the Mediterranean Sea as it burns up in a series of heatwaves.
Scientists say they are witnessing exceptional temperature hikes ranging from 5.4°F to 9°F above the norm for this time of year. Water temperatures exceeded 86°F on some days, according to AP News.
While headlines are focused on extreme heat in Israel and other countries around the Mediterranean, the rising sea temperature is being largely ignored.
Marine heat waves are caused by ocean currents building up areas of warm water. Weather systems and heat in the atmosphere can also heat up the water, and just like their on-land counterparts, marine heat waves are longer, more frequent, and more intense due to human-induced climate change, scientists warn.