Muscat: Climate experts have reported that climate change and rising sea temperatures in Europe have reached unprecedented levels in recent periods, driven primarily by anthropogenic activities. They have warned of severe consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal zones. European seas have not been spared from the intense heatwaves that affected many countries this summer. Last month, the average sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean reached 27°C, marking the highest July reading on record, while a marine buoy off the coast of Mallorca recorded 33°C in early August.

According to Oman News Agency, an analysis conducted by the World Weather Attribution group, which employs peer-reviewed methodologies to assess the role of global warming in extreme weather events, revealed that human-induced climate change has raised Mediterranean Sea temperatures by approximately 2°C, and those of Western European seas by about 1.4°C.

Dr. Claire Bergin, a climate scientist at Maynooth University in Ireland and a co-author of the scientific study, stated: "This signals a complete restructuring of the ecosystems upon which coastal communities depend for food and livelihoods, in addition to triggering damaging extreme weather phenomena on land as well."

The analysis concluded that the sea surface temperature peaks recorded this year in the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, as well as along the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian coast, would have been "virtually impossible" in the absence of anthropogenic climate change.