Mediterranean Sea warming and salinization accelerating at depth

A 75-year study conducted by scientists at the Ruđer Bošković Institute reveals that the Mediterranean Sea is warming and becoming more saline at an accelerating rate. The research, led by Dr. Elena Terzić and Dr. Ivica Vilibić, utilizes data spanning from 1950 to 2025, combining historical research vessel observations with modern autonomous Argo floats.

The findings indicate that these environmental shifts are not limited to the surface. While the upper 100 meters of the Mediterranean have been approximately 2°C warmer than the average of the second half of the 20th century, significant warming signals have also been detected at depths between 300 and 1,000 meters, with measurable changes occurring as deep as 2,000 meters.

The acceleration is particularly pronounced in the central and eastern Mediterranean, as well as the Adriatic Sea, where changes reach the seabed. Since 2000, surface waters have warmed by about 0.5°C per decade, a rate two to three times faster than the global ocean average. Additionally, salinity is increasing, with some areas seeing an increase of about 0.1 grams per kilogram of water per decade.