Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-941-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-941-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
28 Jun 2023
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 28 Jun 2023
| 28 Jun 2023
Dense water formation in the eastern Mediterranean under a global warming scenario
Iván M. Parras-Berrocal
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR),
Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Rubén Vázquez
Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR),
Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Department of Physics and Mathematics, University of Alcalá,
Alcalá de Henares 28801, Spain
William Cabos
Department of Physics and Mathematics, University of Alcalá,
Alcalá de Henares 28801, Spain
Dimitry V. Sein
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow
117997, Russia
Oscar Álvarez
Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR),
Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Miguel Bruno
Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR),
Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Alfredo Izquierdo
Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR),
Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz 11510, Spain
Viewed
Total article views: 3,124 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 16 Feb 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,510 | 527 | 87 | 3,124 | 160 | 66 | 95 |
- HTML: 2,510
- PDF: 527
- XML: 87
- Total: 3,124
- Supplement: 160
- BibTeX: 66
- EndNote: 95
Total article views: 2,685 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 28 Jun 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,178 | 437 | 70 | 2,685 | 124 | 64 | 92 |
- HTML: 2,178
- PDF: 437
- XML: 70
- Total: 2,685
- Supplement: 124
- BibTeX: 64
- EndNote: 92
Total article views: 439 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 16 Feb 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332 | 90 | 17 | 439 | 36 | 2 | 3 |
- HTML: 332
- PDF: 90
- XML: 17
- Total: 439
- Supplement: 36
- BibTeX: 2
- EndNote: 3
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 3,124 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,006 with geography defined
and 118 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 2,685 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,574 with geography defined
and 111 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 439 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 432 with geography defined
and 7 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
12 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A new vision of the Adriatic Dense Water future under extreme warming C. Denamiel et al. 10.5194/os-21-37-2025
- Surface saline lakes in the Mediterranean Sea E. Terzić et al. 10.5194/os-21-1441-2025
- Accelerated Warming and Salinification of the Mediterranean Sea: Implications for Dense Water Formation N. Skliris et al. 10.3390/jmse13010025
- Siliceous plankton flux and radiolarian community structure in the highly oligotrophic Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean) – Imprints of climate variability M. Cueille et al. 10.1016/j.marmicro.2025.102460
- Climate evolution in the Mediterranean Sea from an ocean circulation model R. Jabnoun & A. Harzallah 10.1007/s00382-024-07152-y
- Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring Along the Trabocchi Coast (Chieti, Italy): Insights from Underwater Visual Surveys (2011–2024) A. Arbuatti et al. 10.3390/ani14233469
- First Report of the Thermophilic Thalassoma Pavo (Linnaeus, 1758) on the Central Adriatic Coast of Italy, in Abruzzo A. Arbuatti et al. 10.3390/biology13120987
- Projections of the Adriatic wave conditions under climate changes A. Moulin et al. 10.3389/fclim.2024.1409237
- Marine climate indicators in the Adriatic Sea V. da Costa et al. 10.3389/fclim.2024.1449633
- Climate change impact in offshore energy resources along the Spanish coasts based on a high-resolution regionally coupled model R. Vázquez et al. 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123202
- Statistical analysis of ocean currents in the eastern Mediterranean Y. Ashkenazy et al. 10.5194/os-21-1641-2025
- Kilometer-scale trends, variability, and extremes of the Adriatic far-future climate (RCP 8.5, 2070−2100) I. Tojčić et al. 10.3389/fmars.2024.1329020
11 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A new vision of the Adriatic Dense Water future under extreme warming C. Denamiel et al. 10.5194/os-21-37-2025
- Surface saline lakes in the Mediterranean Sea E. Terzić et al. 10.5194/os-21-1441-2025
- Accelerated Warming and Salinification of the Mediterranean Sea: Implications for Dense Water Formation N. Skliris et al. 10.3390/jmse13010025
- Siliceous plankton flux and radiolarian community structure in the highly oligotrophic Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean) – Imprints of climate variability M. Cueille et al. 10.1016/j.marmicro.2025.102460
- Climate evolution in the Mediterranean Sea from an ocean circulation model R. Jabnoun & A. Harzallah 10.1007/s00382-024-07152-y
- Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring Along the Trabocchi Coast (Chieti, Italy): Insights from Underwater Visual Surveys (2011–2024) A. Arbuatti et al. 10.3390/ani14233469
- First Report of the Thermophilic Thalassoma Pavo (Linnaeus, 1758) on the Central Adriatic Coast of Italy, in Abruzzo A. Arbuatti et al. 10.3390/biology13120987
- Projections of the Adriatic wave conditions under climate changes A. Moulin et al. 10.3389/fclim.2024.1409237
- Marine climate indicators in the Adriatic Sea V. da Costa et al. 10.3389/fclim.2024.1449633
- Climate change impact in offshore energy resources along the Spanish coasts based on a high-resolution regionally coupled model R. Vázquez et al. 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123202
- Statistical analysis of ocean currents in the eastern Mediterranean Y. Ashkenazy et al. 10.5194/os-21-1641-2025
Latest update: 28 Aug 2025
Co-editor-in-chief
This research predicts the potential future of the Eastern Mediterranean's circulation under the RCP8.5 emission scenario, using a coupled regional climate system model and a global oceanic model. The study predicts a significant decrease in dense water formation, a key process in Mediterranean overturning circulation, by up to 84% in the Adriatic, Aegean, and Levantine seas by the end of the century. This study forecasts a shift in the main source of Eastern Mediterranean Deep Water from the Adriatic Sea to the Aegean Sea. These changes, related to increased vertical stratification that hinders vertical mixing and convection, fill a crucial gap in our understanding of how climate change could reshape the Mediterranean Sea's dynamics.
This research predicts the potential future of the Eastern Mediterranean's circulation under the...
Short summary
Global warming may strongly affect dense water formation in the eastern Mediterranean, potentially impacting basin circulation and water properties. We find that at the end of the century dense water formation is reduced by 75 % for the Adriatic, 84 % for the Aegean, and 83 % for the Levantine Sea. This reduction is caused by changes in the temperature and salinity of surface and intermediate waters, which strengthen the vertical stratification, hampering deep convection.
Global warming may strongly affect dense water formation in the eastern Mediterranean,...
