Climate change drives rapid Arctic warming and extreme weather in Greece

The Copernicus Marine service has released its 10th annual report, warning that climate change is rapidly transforming the Arctic and Antarctic environments. Pierre Biell, General Director of Mercator Ocean International, stated, “The message is very clear. The ocean is changing fast.”

Data shows significant warming in the Arctic, where surface temperatures have risen by 4.2 degrees Celsius between 1982 and 2024, averaging approximately one degree per decade. In the Kara Sea near Russian coasts, temperatures rose by 6.7 degrees Celsius over 40 years. This warming has led to a 17% reduction in Arctic sea ice extent over the last 42 years, with an average loss of 490,000 square kilometers per decade.

In Greece, the National Meteorological Service (EMY) has issued an emergency bulletin for eastern and southern regions. Crete is expected to face heavy rain and storms, particularly in the Chania and Rethymno prefectures, with conditions potentially persisting until Sunday. Additionally, the Aegean Sea is expected to experience very strong northeasterly winds reaching 8 to 9 Beaufort.