Europe Experiences Record Marine Heatwaves, Threatening Fisheries and Ecosystems
European seas recorded their hottest summer months since 1982, with an average temperature of 21.6 degrees Celsius between June and August, the highest in 45 years of data. The Bay of Biscay, off the Atlantic coasts of France and Spain, was particularly affected, averaging 21.4 degrees Celsius during the same period, which is more than 2.4 degrees Celsius above its 1991-2020 average. Readings from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed the Bay of Biscay peaked at 23.2 degrees Celsius on August 13, marking the highest temperature in the satellite era. Marine heatwaves are defined as five or more consecutive days of water temperatures significantly above an area's historical norm. Scientists indicate that these events are becoming more frequent, intense, and widespread due to greenhouse gas emissions increasing atmospheric temperatures globally. The world's oceans absorb the majority of this excess heat, retaining it longer than land or the atmosphere.
