The Mediterranean Sea has experienced a warming of over one degree Celsius in the last 25 years. This according to a recent study from Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the energy agency ENEA.
The study, conducted as part of the Macpap project and supported by GNV, MSC Group’s ferry company, highlights a significant rise in water temperatures, particularly in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea since 2013, with increases extending northward and reaching depths of up to 800 meters.
The data reveal that between 100 and 450 meters, temperatures have risen by 0.4 to 0.6 degrees, and between 450 and 800 meters, by 0.3 to 0.5 degrees. Notably, the period from 2013 to 2016 saw a spike in warming over 0.4 degrees, followed by a brief stabilization and a subsequent increase starting in 2021. The highest recorded temperatures were reached by September 2023.
Researchers note the short time frame in which these changes occurred, and the massive energy influx required for such warming — comparable to several times Italy’s annual electricity consumption. According to ENEA’s Franco Reseghetti, this long-term data is essential for climate research. Looking ahead, INGV‘s Simona Simoncelli indicates that models suggest further warming, though confirmation relies on continued monitoring, with the next survey campaign scheduled for December.
