Record Sea Temperatures in Europe Linked to Climate Change, Pose Financial Risks
By Kate Abnett
Climate Change Drives Record Sea Temperatures and Financial Threats
BRUSSELS, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Human-caused climate change was the main driver of recent record-breaking sea temperatures around Europe, scientists said on Wednesday, warning of severe consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Unprecedented Sea Temperature Records Across Europe
Europe's seas have not escaped the extreme heat that many countries have endured this summer. Last month, the average temperature in the Mediterranean was 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest for any July on record, while an offshore buoy near Mallorca recorded 33 C in early August.
Analysis of Warming Trends
Human-caused climate change has added about 2 C of warming to the Mediterranean and around 1.4 C to Western European seas, according to an analysis by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, which uses peer-reviewed methods to assess global warming's role in extreme weather events.
Impact on Ecosystems and Communities
"This has the potential to completely reshape ecosystems that coastal communities rely on for food and income, and drive damaging extreme weather on land too," said Claire Bergin, a climate scientist at Ireland's Maynooth University and a co-author of the study.
Attribution to Human Activity
The analysis found that peak sea temperatures recorded this year in the eastern and western Mediterranean and along the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change.
In the Celtic Sea, off Britain and Ireland, the most extreme temperatures recorded would have been expected only about once a century in a world without human-caused climate change, it found.
Consequences of Rising Sea Temperatures
Hotter seas increase humidity and overnight temperatures in coastal areas and can help fuel intense storms later in the year.
Role of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, have raised the planet's average temperature to around 1.4 C above pre-industrial levels, according to the World Meteorological Organization. This hotter baseline means the high-pressure atmospheric systems that cause heatwaves can reach higher temperatures.
Threats to Marine Life and Food Chains
Sea temperature spikes can cause mass die-offs of species such as corals and disrupt food supplies for birds and mammals, with knock-on effects through food chains.
John Bruno, a marine ecologist at the University of North Carolina, said some species were moving north to seek cooler waters, but not all could adapt.
Limits of Adaptation
"We are rapidly approaching the absolute biological limits of adaptation for many species," he said.
Extent of Marine Heatwaves
According to the WWA analysis, about 90% of the Bay of Biscay and 80% of the western Mediterranean have experienced marine heatwave conditions this year. Without global warming, that figure would have been closer to 40%.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett. Editing by Mark Potter)
