It is not only on land that large parts of Europe are experiencing a heatwave – the surrounding seas are also unusually warm. In many parts of the Mediterranean, temperatures of 27 to 29 degrees are already being recorded. Off the coasts of Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and the Adriatic, the water feels almost like taking a hot bath.

Parts of the North Sea and the Atlantic are also reaching temperatures of over 20 degrees, which is exceptionally high for this time of year. It is only significantly cooler off the coast of Norway, where the water temperature is around 13 degrees.

The unusually warm seas are not without consequences. They are putting pressure on ecosystems and can intensify heatwaves on land. Furthermore, the risk of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain is increasing because the warm water supplies the atmosphere with additional energy.