Intense marine heatwave hits UK seas, threatens ecosystems

A marine heatwave of unusual intensity is gripping the seas around the United Kingdom, with scientists warning it could reach extreme levels in southern coastal areas this week. The event, fueled by recent record-breaking atmospheric heat, has pushed sea surface temperatures to values typically expected in late August, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems.

The UK's Met Office reports that widespread "strong to locally severe" marine heatwave conditions are now present, marking the third such event this year and the most intense so far. Surface waters in the Northwest European seas are on average 2 degrees Celsius warmer than usual for this time of year, with some localized areas, including parts of the English Channel and southern North Sea, experiencing temperatures 4 to 5 degrees above average. The heatwave developed rapidly following the "heat dome" that brought extreme air temperatures in late June.

Scientists explain that the shallow, tidally mixed nature of seas like the English Channel makes them particularly susceptible to rapid warming, with higher temperatures now also observed below the surface. With further sunny and calm weather forecast, there is little...