02 Jul 2025

Mediterranean Sea Hits Record June Temperature Amid Escalating Marine Heatwaves

Tired Earth

By The Editorial Board

The Mediterranean Sea recorded its highest-ever surface temperature for the month of June last Sunday, with an average of 26.01°C, according to data collected by the European Copernicus program and analyzed by France’s national meteorological service, Météo-France.

“We’ve never before recorded such a high daily temperature in June across the entire Mediterranean basin,” said Thibault Guinaldo, a researcher at the Satellite Meteorology Studies Center in Lannion (Côtes-d’Armor), speaking to AFP.

He added that the current average temperature of the Mediterranean is nearly 3°C higher than the seasonal norms for the 1991–2020 period. Around the French and Spanish coasts, it even exceeds 4°C above normal.

Guinaldo pointed out that current weather conditions are causing the Mediterranean to bear the brunt of the heat, with high temperatures, little wind, and scorching sunshine.

“Looking at the forecast for the coming week, unfortunately, temperatures are not expected to decrease,” he added.

Marine life in the Mediterranean is under serious threat due to rising temperatures

Since 2023, the Mediterranean Sea has been experiencing repeated marine heatwaves, and it now cools much more slowly during the winter than before.

“Since 2023, every year between October and April, the sea’s temperature has risen by about 1°C,” Guinaldo explained.

Local marine heatwaves have been occurring continuously since the beginning of the year across the Mediterranean basin. The Gulf of Lion, in particular, has been enduring an almost constant marine heatwave since April.

On August 15, 2024, the Mediterranean Sea reached its all-time highest surface temperature, averaging 28.47°C, breaking the previous record set in July 2023, according to Copernicus data.

Marine heatwaves have had devastating effects on less mobile marine species. Between 2015 and 2019, heatwaves in the Mediterranean led to mass die-offs of nearly 50 species, including corals, sea urchins, mollusks, and bivalves, from the surface down to depths of 45 meters, according to a study published in 2022 in the journal Global Change Biology.

Source :

Most Viewed

Early Wildfires Hit France and Turkey Amid Severe European Heat Wave

Deforestation and climate change

Comment

Why we need a UN Treaty on plastic pollution The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK charity working on business, learning, insights & analysis, and communications to accelerate the transition towards the circular economy.
Air Pollution for Kids Air is all around us and we need it to survive.
Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution? Our oceans are being filled and killed by throwaway plastics.
Climate Change, Ecological Crisis and Sustainability We are all agents for change in climate action.
Climate Racism Climate Racism: Social Inequalities in the Age of Climate Change