Copernicus report: Med, Black Sea had record-breaking marine heatwaves in 2024
Mediterranean and Black Sea experienced record-breaking marine heatwaves with temperatures more than 4.6 degrees above normal in 2024, according to the tenth report on the state of the ocean, published on September 30 by the Marine Environment Monitoring Service of Copernicus, the EU Earth observation programme
The report shows that the ocean is changing at an alarming pace with direct consequences for marine life, coastlines and communities all across the world.
The report goes back to data from 1960 and shows that, due to the rising temperatures, the average sea-level increased by about 4.2mm per year since 2012.
The Arctic, region of growing strategic importance for climate security, economic resilience and geopolitical stability, shows some of the sharpest changes.
The report highlights that sea-ice extent fell by roughly 490 000 square kilometres per decade between 1979-2025. That corresponds to the area almost as large as Spain.
This loss leads to more wind and waves, which has resulted in around 60 per cent of Arctic coastal infrastructure becoming vulnerable to erosion and sea-level rise.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
