Mediterranean Sea temperatures reach record highs, risking autumn storms

Record-breaking sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean and Black Seas are raising concerns about extreme weather events in the upcoming autumn. According to Professor Şermin Tağıl of Bakırçay University, the Mediterranean's average sea surface temperature has reached approximately 28.4 degrees Celsius, which is about 2 degrees above the long-term average.

Experts warn that the sea is acting as a massive heat reservoir. This accumulated energy serves as a primary source that feeds the atmosphere with heat and moisture, potentially fueling intense rainfall, storms, and flooding during the autumn months. While the El Niño phenomenon is a contributing global climate signal, researchers emphasize that the long-term warming in the Mediterranean is primarily driven by global climate change.

In the Black Sea, temperatures are also trending 1 to 2 degrees above seasonal norms. This thermal energy increases atmospheric instability, which may lead to more frequent and severe weather patterns as the season transitions.