The Mediterranean Sea colder than the English Channel: what is “upwelling” this phenomenon that has dropped the water temperature?

The enthusiastic holidaymakers who arrived in this last weekend in July on the Languedoc. However, coastline was quickly showered. In addition, “The water is cold. Furthermore, Very cold”, Regretted a sixty-something on Saturday morning on a beach in La Grande-Motte, quickly returned to his towel. For example, “At least it refreshes”had his friend nuanced. For example. Moreover, At the aid station a little further, the rescuers displayed a small 20 ° C, far from the 24 ° C a week earlier … Meanwhile, further even 27 ° C. However. even 28 mediterranean sea colder than english new ° C recorded in late June, in early mediterranean sea colder than english July, at the peak of an abnormal episode of marine heat wave.

The drop in bathing water temperatures has since been continued. However, According to data from the Ifremer. Consequently. these caps this Monday morning at 19 ° C in Valras-Plage, Cap d’Agde and Sète, 18 ° C in Carnon, Palavas-les-Flots or La Grande-Motte and even 16 ° C at 17 ° C in Camargue, opposite the Rhône Delta. Well below the seasonal norms, located around 21 ° C. These values are even currently equal to or lower than … the English Channel. In Boulogne-sur-Mer for example, facing the English coast, one could swim Sunday in a sea at 19 ° C. Only the coast of Finistère, with 15 ° C or 16 ° C, is cooler.

No surprise, however. At the end of June. Renaud Dupuy de la Grandrive. director of the protected marine area of the Agathoise coast, commenting on the overheating of the Mediterranean, recalled in our columns that the Gulf of Lion has the particularity “To know great variability. The temperature can drop from 6 ° C, or more, in 24 hours, including in summer”. This was notably the case in August 2023 when the thermometer had gone from 25 ° C to 15. ° C in a few days on the Languedocian beaches. Rebelote two years later.

Mediterranean sea colder than english new

Mediterranean sea colder than english

The hot water pushed over the mediterranean sea colder than english new sea

The reason? The phenomenon known as “upwelling” (rise of water in French), caused by the winds. The principle is basic: when strong mediterranean sea colder than english gusts of wind blow from the northwest. Additionally, the hot water located on the surface is pushed back to the open sea. Mechanically, the cold water located in depth rises to the surface towards the coastal areas.

However. for several days. Mistral and Tramontane have been blowing in the Rhône valley and on Roussillon, before diving on the Mediterranean. “We owe this to a recurrence of low pressures circulating on the north of France to dive to Italy. while the high pressures remain centered on the Atlantic Ocean. This flow of northwest is conducive to mistral and tramontane”decipher the specialists in Météo Languedoc. The first is created between the Massif Central. the Alps. runs along the Rhône, the second is established between mediterranean sea colder than english new the Massif Central and the Pyrenees before sweeping the Western Héraultais, the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales. Furthermore. The gusts have reached in recent days up to 80 mediterranean sea colder than english km/h, even making the tanning sessions not very pleasant.

At least until August 5 …

And the windy episode could last a few more days. “At least until August 5” “According to Météo Languedoc. the anticyclone of the Azores being well installed on the Atlantic, generating these depressions between northern France and Italy. Météo France thus provides gusts “Up to 60. even 70 km/h” On the Lion Gulf Tuesday and Wednesday and between 45 and 60 km/h Thursday. The winds should then lose in intensity, but will still last for the first weekend in August. Conditions which therefore do not delight bathers … nor firefighters, who will have to redouble vigilance in the face of the risk mediterranean sea colder than english new of fires throughout the Mediterranean.

This cooling of the waters of the Gulf of Lion should not however make us forget the overall warming. of the Mediterranean. its disastrous consequences on the mediterranean sea colder than english marine fauna and flora. On the French Riviera and on the Spanish border, bathing waters always display some 24 ° C at 25 ° C. The average sea temperature, on the surface, has reached 25.02 ° C on Sunday, 0.5 ° C above seasonal normal, with points at more than 30 ° C çà and there. Records that it is not impossible to reach again. in two to three weeks, on the beaches of Hérault or Gard, if the winds are reversed.