Climate change threatens Mediterranean: vacationers have to be careful!
Climate change threatens Mediterranean: vacationers have to be careful!
Mittelmeer, Italien - The Mediterranean, a preferred goal for summer vacationers, is increasingly under pressure through the climate crisis. Scientists warn of the devastating effects of increasing temperatures and ecological stress, which can affect the holiday experience sustainably. Professor Christian Wild from the University of Bremen emphasizes that the water temperatures in winter no longer lower less than ten degrees. This leads to serious changes in the ecosystem of the Mediterranean.
Plant and animal species that rely on cold periods for reproduction are particularly affected. Schnorchler and divers report worrying changes in underwater worlds, including a decline in sea grass meadows and horn coral forests in favor of algae carpets. Extreme weather events such as heat periods and floods are added to the region.ecological challenges and dangers
The rising water temperatures lead to an increased salt content due to faster evaporation, which is problematic for many marine organisms, including fish, corals and mussels. Lack of oxygen occurs more in warm water, especially in flatter zones, which contributes to a mass death of life forms. In addition, “death zones” are created by dying algae that consume more oxygen than they can produce.
A worrying increase in jellyfish populations is also recorded. Jumps that have existed in front of the dinosaurs have been common in all oceans and play an important role in the marine ecosystem. But since about 2003 there has been an imbalance in the Mediterranean, which results in an explosive increase in the jellyfish. This not only has an impact on the marine ecosystem, but also affects fishermen and tourism.
jostling fishing nets and damage fishing devices, which means that fishing workers spend more time removing jellyfish instead of making their actual catches. In addition, beaches that are littered with jellyfish lose attractiveness, which leads to a decline in visitor numbers and economic damage to local communities.
urgent need for action
To master the situation, urgently need to be traded. The WWF indicates the need for measures that should also promote the protection of the coastal landscapes and biodiversity. A reduction in overfishing and avoiding wastewater loads are strongly advised. The restoration by reforestation of seaweed meadows is also recommended.
In addition, the country regions in the Mediterranean are badly affected, with regular bush and forest fires in countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy and southern France. Italy in particular suffers from heavy droughts, especially in medium and southern regions and on Sicily. Vacationers who want to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean are called to take local warnings and weather instructions seriously to ensure their safety.The challenges that the Mediterranean are at the door due to the climate crisis and the associated ecological changes require crucial measures to protect both the environment and the vacation paradise.
For more information on these topics, see also The West and wwf .
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| Ort | Mittelmeer, Italien |
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