Brutal heat and a marine heatwave in southern Europe have triggered intense wildfires in France and Spain, forcing approximately 30,000 people, including thousands of tourists, to evacuate. Authorities in both countries are deploying resources as record-breaking temperatures and land burned exacerbate the crisis.
Over 20,000 people have evacuated due to intense wildfires on France's Atlantic coast, exacerbated by a record-breaking marine heatwave in the Mediterranean and extreme temperatures across southern Europe. Firefighters battle the blaze near Bordeaux as an investigation into its cause begins.
The UK is experiencing an "extreme" marine heatwave with ocean temperatures 2C warmer than usual, potentially causing mass-mortality events for marine species. Scientists link this to Europe's recent heat dome and El Niño conditions, warning of significant ecosystem disruption.
A marine heatwave is expected to reach extreme levels around the UK this week, with sea temperatures potentially 4-5C above average. This could harm marine life, including seagrasses and shellfish, while encouraging warm-water species.
Marine heatwaves have tripled since the early 1990s, signaling the ocean's strain from absorbing over 90% of Earth's excess heat. The Earth's energy imbalance, a key climate change indicator, has doubled, leading to rising temperatures, melting ice, and intensified weather extremes. Monitoring systems are under threat, just as clarity is most needed.
The Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $386 million network of ocean sensors, is being decommissioned due to budget cuts, affecting research on ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, and climate change.
