Mediterranean Sea off Murcia reaches record temperatures raising concerns over storms and marine life

The tropicalisation of the Mediterranean is changing life above and beneath the waves while making summer nights increasingly uncomfortable

The Mediterranean around the Region of Murcia has reached record temperatures this summer, with the unusually warm water raising concerns about both future storms and the health of marine life.

For people spending the summer on the coast, the difference is certainly noticeable. The sea has felt exceptionally warm, even early in the morning, and the latest measurements show just how unusual this year's temperatures have been.

A SeaWatch buoy off Cabo de Palos recorded 29.77°C on July 21, the highest temperature ever recorded at that location. The temperature was almost as high again on Saturday August 15, when it reached 29.72°C.

The nights have been unusually warm too. During the early hours of August 3, the sea temperature only fell to 27.88°C. That is the second highest minimum recorded in the series.

The measurements are taken around three metres below the surface and several miles from the coast. Aemet spokesperson Carlos Santos says the water closer to the beaches can be warmer still.

The sea around Murcia is holding onto record levels of summer heat

Across the Mediterranean, sea temperatures are currently around 2 to 3°C above normal in some areas. Around the Murcia coast, they are between 1.4 and 1.6°C above the historical average.

That extra heat matters because warmer seawater means more moisture in the atmosphere. Aemet estimates that every additional degree of warming can increase the amount of available atmospheric moisture by around 7%.

This does not mean that a DANA will definitely occur, or that its severity can be predicted. It does mean there is more moisture available to feed a storm if the right weather conditions develop.

They warn that the conditions are in place for some potentially severe DANA episodes this autumn.
The Mediterranean is also taking longer to cool down. Water temperatures that would once have started falling noticeably from around September 15 can now remain very high into early October.

Why warmer Mediterranean waters could make future storms more intense

The warmer sea is already having an effect on conditions along the coast. It releases heat and moisture into the air overnight, making it harder for temperatures to fall. This is one reason coastal areas are seeing more nights when temperatures stay at 25°C or above.

The change has become increasingly noticeable in recent summers. The warmer the sea remains, the less relief there is after sunset.

There is also concern about what could happen when this extra heat combines with a DANA or another storm system in autumn. A very warm Mediterranean can provide large amounts of moisture, increasing the potential for intense rainfall.

Experts stress that this is about changing probabilities rather than predicting a particular storm. A warm sea does not automatically produce a DANA, but the conditions can make a severe episode more dangerous if one develops.

The tropicalisation of the Mediterranean is changing life beneath the waves

The warming sea is also changing what lives beneath the surface. Scientists are describing the process as the tropicalisation of the Mediterranean. As the water becomes warmer, species that prefer hotter conditions are finding it easier to survive and spread, while some species adapted to cooler Mediterranean waters are coming under pressure. This is already happening along the Murcia coast.

Posidonia seagrass is getting close to its temperature tolerance limit in some areas. At the same time, warmer-water species are benefiting from the changing conditions.

Some species that entered the Mediterranean from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal are now spreading further west as temperatures rise. White prawns are among those doing well in the warmer waters, while red prawns, Norway lobster, hake and blue whiting are facing greater pressure.

The concern is that these changes can affect the marine food chain. Species may be able to cope with small temperature changes, but prolonged warming can upset the balance between them.

Researchers monitoring the waters between Isla Grosa and Cabo de Palos have also recorded an increase in marine heatwaves, both in frequency and intensity.

And there is currently little indication that the warming trend is about to stop.

Read also:  50 Heat-related Deaths Recorded In Murcia This Summer

Image 1: Archive
Image 2-3: Puertos del Estado