The Mediterranean Sea is currently well oxygenated thanks to the active formation of deep waters in winter through vertical mixing, which helps to maintain biodiversity. Projections for 2100 indicate a warming of the waters of the Mediterranean, which could lead to stratification of surface waters and a reduction in winter vertical mixing. Although this effect could be partially offset by a reduction in annual precipitation over the Mediterranean region, a more stagnant circulation could be in place by the end of the century. This phenomenon could be amplified by the melting of the Greenland ice, the dynamics of which are still poorly understood. In fact, the entry of less salty water from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar could contribute to a slowdown in marine circulation in the Mediterranean.
Read the rest on the CNRS/INSU website