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
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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,...
