Study: Climate Change the Main Driver of Sea Overheating in Europe

The warming of seas in Europe is largely a consequence of climate change, which this summer is causing temperatures to rise by up to two degrees Celsius in the Mediterranean Sea and expanding the affected areas, with serious consequences, especially for marine life, according to a study published today by Swiss scientists.

„From the Atlantic off the coast of Ireland to the Mediterranean Sea, European seas are experiencing an alarming rise in temperature,“ with some Mediterranean areas reaching up to six degrees Celsius above normal this summer, said Thomas Froleicher of the University of Bern, one of the study’s authors.

According to him, the research clearly shows that this increase is a result of climate change, particularly the continued burning of fossil fuels.

By combining observational data and climate models to compare the current climate with a hypothetical climate without human-induced warming, researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) collective estimated that climate change added approximately two degrees Celsius to this summer’s temperatures in the Mediterranean, 1.4 degrees in the Iberian Peninsula region, and 1.3 degrees in the Celtic region (Ireland and western Great Britain).

In July 2026, global oceans reached record temperatures for the second consecutive month, according to data from the European Copernicus Observatory. This phenomenon was particularly pronounced in Europe, WWA emphasizes.

During the 14 hottest days of 2026, warming compared to the average reached 3.1 degrees Celsius in the western Mediterranean and 2.6 degrees in the eastern Mediterranean, compared to 1.5 degrees in the Iberian Peninsula region and 1.2 degrees in the Celtic region.

Under the influence of climate change, marine heatwaves have also spread across European seas, the study states, adding that this phenomenon would be very rare without climate change and global warming, the study emphasizes.

Sea warming increases air temperature and humidity along the coasts, worsening nighttime temperatures and heat stress.

Marine and land heatwaves are undoubtedly connected and can reinforce each other. They are two sides of the same coin,“ the research states.

Sea warming can also worsen certain extreme weather events, especially heavy rainfall, by increasing evaporation and thus atmospheric humidity.

While warmer waters may seem pleasant for swimming in colder countries, like mine, the consequences for marine life are much more concerning.

Sea warming can cause mass extinction of corals, sponges, and algae, disrupt food chains, and reduce populations of seabirds and mammals, with economic consequences for fishing, aquaculture, and tourism.