Mediterranean Sea faces record marine heatwaves and ecological shifts

The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing significant thermal anomalies, with data indicating record-breaking temperatures. According to the LaMMA-CNR consortium, July 2026 was the hottest July since 1993, featuring a mean surface temperature of approximately 27°C. Approximately 79% of the Mediterranean experienced a “strong” or greater marine heatwave for at least one day, and 94% of the basin recorded values above the 1993–2022 average.

Greenpeace Italia’s “Mare Caldo” project highlights that these rising temperatures, which can reach depths of 40 meters, are causing severe ecological disruptions. The warming facilitates the uncontrolled proliferation of invasive and thermophilic species while causing necrosis and bleaching in corals, gorgonians, and various algae.

While some areas near Gibraltar and the Balearic Islands have seen a slight attenuation in heat, severe thermal nuclei persist near the Sicilian Channel and the Adriatic Sea. Experts note a long-term warming trend of approximately 0.7°C per decade, driven by the ongoing climate crisis.