FACTBOX - Climate Change and the Mediterranean
Date: 22-Aug-06
Country: ITALY
Here are some facts about the pests and climate change.
HEAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Surface temperatures in parts of the Mediterranean hit 29 degrees Celsius (84F) during August, compared to a long-term average of 24 to 27 degrees Celsius (75 to 80F). In early August temperatures were 4 degrees warmer than the long-term average in the western Med. (Source: Met Office).
HEAT IN THE WORLD
There is considerable scientific evidence that shows global air temperatures are increasing, boosted by a build-up of "greenhouse gases" which prevent heat from radiating out into space.
The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts the average global temperature will increase by 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius by 2100.
US space agency NASA says 2005 was the warmest globally in more than a century and that the preceding three years were also the warmest since the 1890s.
The US National Climatic Data Center said the first half of 2006 were the warmest six months since records began in 1895.
TOXIC ALGAE
Stretches of holiday beaches were temporarily closed in parts of Italy in August due to toxic algal blooms.
The ostreopsis ovata algae can cause skin irritations and respiratory problems.
Warmer water, combined with nutrients from agricultural pollution and human waste appear to have boosted the formation of the algal blooms.
JELLYFISH
Many beaches in the Mediterranean, including some of the busiest beach areas of Spain, saw an increase in pelagia noctiluca jellyfish, sometimes known as the "mauve stinger".
As well as the warmth, the jellyfish may have benefited from a reduction in predators such as tuna and turtles in the Mediterranean and from reduced freshwater flows from rivers which help to keep them away from the shore.