Europe’s seas reach record heat as climate change threatens marine life
Summary
Scientists say climate change caused record high sea temperatures in European waters this summer. These hotter seas threaten marine life and the communities that depend on the ocean for food and jobs.Key Facts
- The Mediterranean Sea reached an average temperature of 27°C (81°F) in July 2026, a record high for that month.
- Near Mallorca, sea temperatures peaked at 33°C in early August.
- Human-caused climate change added about 2°C of warming to the Mediterranean and about 1.4°C to Western European seas.
- These extreme temperatures would have been nearly impossible without human-driven global warming.
- About 90% of the Bay of Biscay and 80% of the western Mediterranean experienced marine heatwave conditions this year.
- Hotter seas increase humidity, raise nighttime coastal temperatures, and can lead to more intense storms.
- Rising sea temperatures threaten marine ecosystems, causing species die-offs and forcing some animals to move north.
- The increase in greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels has raised the planet’s average temperature by about 1.4°C above pre-industrial times.
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