In Sardinia, the sea warms up to 2 degrees: "Flora and fauna at risk"
The Greenpeace report, which monitored the areas of Tavolara, Asinara and Capo Carbonara. «Worrying» consequences of the thermal anomalies already found on algae and gorgonians
Capo Carbonara (Ansa)
The Mediterranean is in danger: warmer seas, endangered flora and fauna and a high risk of extreme climatic events.
The alarm was sounded by Greenpeace Italy, in the "Hot Sea" report , conducted by researchers from the Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences of the University of Genoa, to monitor the impacts of the climate crisis on Italian seas.
Among the marine areas kept under control in the Tyrrhenian Sea , three are in Sardinia: they are Asinara, Tavolara and Capo Carbonara.
ASINARA - At Asinara, according to the dossier of the environmental association, «in the summer of 2022, in the months from July to September, at 5 meters it was possible to highlight sea temperatures of 1-2°C more than in summer previous".
TAVOLARA – In Tavolara «we observe the alternation of particularly hot periods with colder periods from the month of June to the month of August which could represent thermal anomalies». But in this case more information is needed: "Only through the analysis of future data - explains Greenpeace - it will be possible to determine whether this is the normal seasonal trend or whether these can be considered thermal anomalies".
CAPO CARBONARA – In the sea of Capo Carbonara, on the other hand, «in August 2022, temperature values were recorded of 1.5°C more than the previous year up to 15 meters. Below this depth, the temperature values in 2022 were instead lower, highlighting a clear thermocline in this area too, probably due to sudden overheating of the surface waters, such as what was observed in the Portofino MPA and on the Island of Elba". . Here, underlines the Greenpeace dossier, "in the months between June and September 2022, thermal anomalies of up to 2°C more were recorded at 10-15 meters of depth compared to the monthly averages of previous years".
FLORA ALARM – Furthermore, the protected marine area of Capo Carbonara, together with the Island of Elba, is the area where the greatest impacts on gorgonians have been observed. At Capo Carbonara, in particular, 50% of the red gorgonian colonies showed signs of necrosis. Also at Capo Carbonara "the signs of excavation of the encrusting coralline algae have reached worrying percentages of 65% and 45% respectively", say the researchers.
“DRAMATIC CHANGES” – «The increase in temperatures is causing dramatic changes in marine biodiversity, from the disappearance of the most sensitive species characteristic of our sea to the invasion of others, often alien, which are better adapted to an increasingly warm sea». explains Monica Montefalcone , researcher of the DISTAV Seascape Ecology Lab.
“THERMAL ANOMALIES” – «The effects of the climate crisis and thermal anomalies are evident in all monitoring areas, regardless of the geographical location or the level of conservation of the sites», comments Alessandro Giannì , campaign manager of Greenpeace Italy. He adds: "Our sea is paying a high price: it becomes increasingly poor but also increasingly dangerous, because the heat that accumulates in the sea contributes to fueling increasingly extreme climatic phenomena".
