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Thomas Frolicher identifies climate change as the primary driver of rising sea temperatures across Europe

Thomas Frolicher, an environmental physicist at the University of Bern, Switzerland, reported that climate change is the main driver of Europe's rising sea temperatures. A new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group indicates that the continued burning of fossil fuels has directly added approximately 2°C of warming to the Mediterranean Sea and over 1.3°C to Western European seas. Researchers found that these rising temperatures have caused a massive expansion of marine heatwaves, with 90% of the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast region and 80% of the western Mediterranean experiencing heatwaves this year. Without human-caused warming, these areas would have been affected by heatwaves only about half as much. The study highlights severe ecological impacts, including species shifting northwards to cooler waters and disrupting food chains. While warmer waters may be appealing to beachgoers, the impacts on the research suggests that the impacts on marine life beneath the surface are more serious, potentially reshaping ecosystems that coastal communities rely on for food and income.

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