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Storm sinks luxury yacht Bayesian off Sicily coastwas sudden, violent, and deadly— Scientists say it could be a warning of things to come as global warming exacerbates extreme weather in the Mediterranean.
The superyacht, which had 22 people on board, sank near Porticello Harbour in the early hours of Monday morning.claiming at least five lives. Rescue operations are still ongoing due to the difficulty in reaching the vessel, which is located at a depth of about 50 meters on the seabed.
The incident shocked many. The Mediterranean is valued for its clear, calm waters and is a major summer destination for the wealthy and their superyachts.
But these waters remain dangerous — one reason thousands of people die each year trying to cross them — and experts say they’re becoming more dangerous as human-caused climate change warms the oceans, fueling stronger and more intense storms.
The reason for the decline of “Bayes” is still under investigation. “It was dark and there were no photos.”, said Luca Mercali, president of the Italian Meteorological Society.
But many believe the yacht was hit by a waterspout – one of several types of tornadoes. The Coast Guard reported the yacht was hit by a tornado, while the European Severe Weather Database reported a waterspout. The storm that day led to at least two dozen reports of flooding across Italy.
A waterspout is a narrow, rotating column of air that occurs beneath a storm over water and is fueled by heat and moisture..
Most waterspouts are fairly weak, with “strong gusts for a few seconds before moving on or disappearing.”“But some may be stronger.”
There is not much data about the leak because They often occur unnoticed at sea.but there is evidence that ocean temperatures may affect them. A study by scientists at the University of Barcelona focusing on Spain’s Balearic Islands showed that flooding is more likely when the ocean is very warm.
However, Innis said linking climate change to more frequent or severe leaks is “going too far at this point.” In addition to heat, they require several different conditions to form, including wind and temperature differences between the air and the ocean.
While ocean heat is influenced by natural climate fluctuations such as El Niño, scientists know it is driven by human-caused global warming and the burning of fossil fuels.
When oceans warm, they are able to release more energy into the atmosphere. This can translate into strong winds or fast updrafts in thunderstorms, Ines said. Warmer air can also hold more moisture, so when a storm produces rainfall, it can be heavier and more intense.
In Italy and around the world, the number of severe thunderstorms and downpours — strong winds triggered by storms — has increased in recent decades, Mercali said.
Storm that hit Sicily reaches Mediterranean from the westIt gets its energy from high ocean temperatures, said Justino Martínez, a researcher at the Spanish Institute of Marine Scientists.
Spain’s Balearic Islands have been particularly hard hit. Heavy rains last week flooded roads, forced evacuations, cancelled flights and capsized yachts moored on the popular island of Formentera.
The storm gained more energy before reaching ItalyMartinez told CNN. In addition to the waterspout, other strong storms in Sicily on Sunday evening brought heavy rainfall, with Brolo receiving more than 100 millimeters of rain in less than four hours.
The Mediterranean region is on the front line of the climate crisis. It has been called a hotbed of climate change, warming about 20% faster than the global average.
“Global warming, and warming of the Mediterranean in particular, could lead to the intensification of some potentially dangerous weather systems in the region.“, Ines said.
Italy, surrounded by rapidly warming Mediterranean waters, has been particularly hard hit. Last year, a storm hit a boat on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing four people.
The country is also facing Last May, a “once-in-a-century” deadly flood killed at least 14 people. Last August, temperatures in Sicily reached 48.8 degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking the European temperature record.
Outside of Italy, Last year’s Storm Daniel, triggered by unusually warm waters, claimed lives in Greece, Türkiye and BulgariaBut by far the greatest devastation caused by the storm has been in Libya.
The so-called “Doctor” is a rare hurricane-like cyclone in the Mediterranean that draws its energy from warm waters and has caused flash floods that have killed thousands.
“Global warming exacerbates all extreme weather events, with huge costs to people and societies,” McCully said.
(Telegraf.rs/CNN)
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