Intensifying heat due to climate change has caused a surge in ocean temperatures, including the sea along the coast of the Algarve.
Holidaying and resident beachgoers can expect local sea temperatures to be between 23 and 24 degrees C this Saturday, August 16th.
The whole of Portugal is experiencing high temperatures with some averaging 34 C mid-week. Forest fires are still raging in northern and central regions, some fuelled by high winds and being battled by exhausted firefighters.
Heat alerts published by the national meteorological agency are warning citizens across the mainland to take special care.
Severe as the situation now is, it was worse at this time last month when records were broken. July had the hottest marine temperatures ever recorded in Portugal. The warming was widespread with 95% of the Mediterranean showing above average temperatures.
The western Mediterranean has been the most affected by “extreme anomalies”
Other Mediterranean countries are struggling with high temperatures too. Greece has been doing its best to cope with a dozen major wildfires, including one threatening the third largest city.
Spain, France, Italy and the Balkans have been struggling with extreme temperatures that scientists say are due to climate change and the lack of action taken to control harmful greenhouse emission by the world’s major powers.
The comfortably warm sea may be helping illegal immigrants, such as the group washed ashore in a wooden boat in Vila de Bispo in the western Algarve last Friday. They appeared in court on the next day and ordered to be removed from Portuguese territory
Meanwhile, a new study has revealed that climate change heat waves are forcing a “staggering decline” in bird populations around the world. The first-of-its-kind analysis published the NatureEcology and Evolution journal says the decline has occurred mainly in the tropics, but also everywhere else.
Written by Len Port - Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
