Baku:According to the Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Arctic is undergoing significant transformations as marine heat waves reach unprecedented levels in European seas. These rising ocean temperatures are impacting marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and economies worldwide.

The report from the European Union's Copernicus Marine Service highlights the Arctic as one of the regions experiencing the most pronounced changes. It noted a decline in Arctic sea ice extent of about 490,000 square kilometers per decade between 1979 and 2025, an area comparable to the size of Spain.

This reduction in sea ice has led to increased wind and wave activity, which has left approximately 60% of Arctic coastal infrastructure vulnerable to erosion and rising sea levels.

Additionally, the report points to exceptionally high temperatures in European regional seas, with the Mediterranean and Black Sea experiencing record marine heat waves in 2024. Temperatures in these areas were more than 4.6 degrees Celsius (40.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal.

Global sea levels have continued to rise, with the average rate reaching about 4.2 millimeters per year since 2012.