Is the Mediterranean Sea turning tropical? Science Talk and Discussion

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On Thursday 17th March, Dr. Edward Duca is hosting a free event about how the Mediterranean Sea is warming up and the consequences this will have on marine life.

7.15pm, Inspirations! Cafe St. James Cavalier. After the talk, anyone attending can ask the speaker any Questions they want.

The talk will be conducted by Dr. Alan Deidun, you can follow event annoucements here www.tinyurl.com/MarchMCS

Overview

A tropical Mediterranean Sea might seem an alluring prospect for many, ushering in visions of idyllic Caribbean and Pacific regions. However, the impacts of an inexorable warming trend on the stunning marine biodiversity of this sea, 30% of which is endemic and thus restricted to this part of the world only, will be considerable.

A warmer sea will cause the spread of alien, non-indigenous species, increase the frequency of jelly...fish blooms, raise acidification rates, and result in the spread of viral infections and mass mortality events. If this is not enough cause for concern, the potential impacts of such warming will also affect the services we derive from marine biodiversity and biogeochemical systems. Such services include fisheries and climate regulation that will hit us closer to home.

The tropicalisation of the Mediterranean is not a figment of our imagination and has already been documented. An increase in sea temperature and salinity has been recorded from across the basin, with the outflow from the Mediterranean into the Atlantic being increasingly warmer and saltier. Is there anything we can do to save our sea?

[robby017]

would love to go nic, but i'll be at the gym at 7.30pm, sorry mate