Higher temperatures to hit seas

2008-09-05 13:47

Athens - Marine scientists studying the temperatures of the Mediterranean and Black Sea warned on Wednesday of a continued rise in water temperature unless measures are taken to curb global warming.

Scientists currently aboard the Aigaio oceanographic vessel near Sicily studying the impact of climate change said the two seas' temperatures have risen 2° in the past 25 years and were at risk of rising further if action is not taken.

"This is a large increase for this period," Evangelos Papathanssiou, research director of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, was quoted by the Greek daily Kathimerini as saying.

Temperature rises are not so sharp in the depths of the sea, according to Papathanassiou, who is more concerned about the quality of water along the coast where pollution levels are high.

The Aigaio was on an initial exploratory voyage in March, and is currently conducting a second study off the coast of Sicily.

Scientists say the Adriatic Sea has seen an even larger temperature increase of around 4°C. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA