Record marine heatwave in Trieste Gulf: Slovenian scientists

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, SEP 15 - Scientists at Slovenia's Piran Marine Biological Station of the National Institute of Biology said their measurements show the water temperature at the bottom of the Gulf of Trieste has risen sharply, reaching 24.65 degrees Celsius, by far the worst in the period since 2002, when the station began regularly measuring bottom sea temperature, according to Slovenian news agency STA. On the surface, although higher than average, the increase has been more moderate, according to scientists. On a scale of 1 to 4, the current Gulf phenomenon is classified as a second to third-category "bottom marine heatwave." Elevated temperatures can be extremely stressful for organisms living on the seafloor because they are unable to escape to cooler waters. STA wrote that the institute stated that the situation highlights the urgency of protecting the marine ecosystem from climate change. (ANSA).