Parts of the Mediterranean are more than 6C warmer than normal for the time of year, scientists have said, sparking fears that the sea’s fragile ecosystems are suffering the equivalent of a “marine wildfire” and being permanently altered by global heating.
Water temperatures have been well above average since May and hit a peak of 30.7C off the eastern coast of Corsica last weekend, meaning the summer of 2022 is likely to set new records for both the intensity and duration of the marine heatwave.
