09.10.2026 - Taranto
IRBIM data on the heat emergency in the Mediterranean
The value of the scientific observation network
The summer of 2026 recorded extreme climate conditions, with repeated and prolonged heatwaves that brought record temperatures not only to the atmosphere, but also to the depths of our seas. The Mediterranean Sea is facing a severe thermal crisis, whose ecological and economic consequences require constant monitoring and strategies based on solid scientific evidence.
To track the evolution of these phenomena and understand their long-term dynamics, the work of the Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies of the National Research Council (CNR-IRBIM) is crucial. Through measurement infrastructure and observation networks distributed across the region—such as the oceanographic buoy con located off the coast of Senigallia—CNR-IRBIM researchers, including engineer Pierluigi Penna, constantly monitor the thermal response of the sea. These instruments allow for measuring the inertia with which the sea absorbs atmospheric heat and cross-referencing local data with European models from the Copernicus program, providing an essential knowledge base for assessing the impacts of global warming.
Analyses show that the continuous rise in sea temperatures is profoundly altering the balance of the Mediterranean. In the Adriatic Sea, water temperatures neared 28 °C in June, exceeded 29 °C in July off the coast of Fano, and reached a record threshold of 30 °C in mid-August off Senigallia—a value not recorded since 2012. This warming generates a major ecological impact: die-offs of species unable to move are being recorded, along with mass migrations of fish toward deeper or cooler areas and a progressive colonization by alien species of tropical origin.
On the impact of heatwaves and ocean management, the Director of CNR-IRBIM, Gian Marco Luna, emphasized the imperative need to place scientific research at the center of every political and economic decision: “The ecological transition cannot be addressed without deep scientific knowledge of the Mediterranean Sea. Only through data, long-term monitoring, and research will it be possible to sustainably manage marine resources, understand the effects of climate change, and guide the blue economy toward a more resilient and competitive future. Science must be the compass that allows the challenges of climate change to be transformed into opportunities for sustainable development for the sea, fisheries, and coastal communities.