The Mediterranean Sea has recently shown clear signs of climate change, including an increase in sea surface temperature, salinization of the intermediate and deep waters, and a rise in sea level over the last century that makes it a very vulnerable environment given its particularities of semi-enclosed densely populated basin.

Urgent social and economic drivers need targeted improvements in weather, climate, water, oceans, and relevant environmental information and services. Risks associated with climate variability and extreme environmental events may create social and economic stress which would require new meteorological, hydrological, oceanographic, and climate services in order to ensure the safety and security of populations and the development of adaptive economic strategies.

This special issue is devoted to scientific advances in multidisciplinary studies at several spatial and temporal scales in the Mediterranean Sea. We seek for new approaches and methods in physical and biogeochemical observations and models as well as in developments in operational oceanography (e.g. the fusion of observations and modelling products as well as downstream product development).