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?

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.