Extreme Heat: What Does It Mean For The Mediterranean Sea?

Context: 

Extreme heat has been observed in the Mediterranean for weeks, resulting in wildfires from Algeria to Greece. 

Why are High Sea Temperatures a Problem?

• Suffocation Issue: In a warming world, marine creatures are in danger of suffocating. 
• Less Availability of Oxygen: The warmer the water, the less oxygen is available to breathe, since gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolve better at colder temperatures. 
• Risk of Death by Starvation for Marine Life: The rise in temperature accelerates metabolism, and the organisms need more food to maintain this metabolic rate.
• Toxins for Marine Life: Algal blooms are more common in hotter waters and deplete oxygen levels and produce toxins harmful for marine life and eventually affect the entire ecosystem.
  • High water temperatures are most harmful for animals living at the bottom of oceans, lakes or rivers.
  • Scientists observed mass deaths of benthic species along thousands of kilometers of Mediterranean coastline between 2015 and 2019.
• Exception: Jellyfish are thriving because of higher temperatures, as well as nutrient run-off from farms and sewage.

What does Extreme Heat in the Mediterranean Mean for People?

• Affecting Fishing Activities in the Area
• Increase in Invasive Fishes
• Habitat loss
• Decline in Tourism

What Needs to be done about Rising Temperatures in the Mediterranean?

• Need to stop emitting greenhouse gases.
• Need to combat the growth of algal blooms which are worsened by run-off from agriculture, wastewater and industry.
• Need to strictly focus on achieving the UN goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. 
• Need to increase the number of strictly protected areas where fishing, diving and boating are not allowed and need to be properly managed.
  • It is observed that well-protected areas are recovering faster and better from human disturbance.
• Some of the Mediterranean’s new inhabitants could also be a helpful addition as the planet heats up.
• Studies show that plants can deal with rising Mediterranean temperatures if they are intentionally exposed to heat as young seedlings.

News Source: The Indian Express