The Mediterranean Sea has reached a new milestone, recording its highest daily surface temperature on Thursday, according to Spanish marine researchers. This latest record breaks the previous mark set in July 2023, signaling continued warming in one of the world's most ecologically significant bodies of water.
Spain's leading institute of marine sciences announced on Friday that the Mediterranean Sea achieved a daily median temperature of 28.90 degrees Celsius. This surpasses the previous record of 28.71 degrees Celsius, recorded on July 24, 2023, as stated by Justino Martinez, a researcher at the Institut de Ciencies del Mar in Barcelona and the Catalan Institute of Research for the Governance of the Sea.
Additionally, preliminary data indicated that the highest temperature on August 15 was registered on the Egyptian coast at El-Arish, reaching 31.96 degrees Celsius. However, these figures are awaiting further verification through human checks.
The 2024 preliminary readings are based on satellite data from the European Copernicus Observatory, with records extending back to 1982. Notably, this marks the second consecutive summer where the Mediterranean has been warmer than the exceptional 2003 heatwave, during which a daily median of 28.25 degrees Celsius was recorded on August 23—a record that stood for two decades.
These rising temperatures highlight the ongoing impact of global warming on marine environments, potentially affecting biodiversity, weather patterns, and coastal communities surrounding the Mediterranean region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
