The new Mediterranean: higher, hotter, saltier

Climate change means sea levels in the Mediterranean could rise by up to 61 centimetres this century, according to a team of Spanish and British researchers.

Scientists with the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies ran computer simulations for three different climate scenarios to determine likely future temperatures, sea levels and salinity for the Mediterranean. They found that, even under the best-case scenario — greenhouse gas concentrations stabilised at 2000 levels — the sea would still feel an impact.

Under the worst-case scenario, Mediterranean sea levels would not only rise, but water temperatures would increase by up to 2.5 degrees C, with heating accelerating as the century progresses. The Mediterranean would also grow more salty, the researchers found.