Acidification, deoxygenation, and nutrient and biomass declines in a warming Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. The projected warming, nutrient decline, changes in net primary production, deoxygenation and acidification of the global ocean will affect marine ecosystems during 21st century. Here, climate change-related impacts on Mediterranean Sea middle at end century are assessed using high-resolution projections physical biogeochemical state basin under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 8.5. In both scenarios, analysis shows dissolved contents euphotic intermediate layers basin, phytoplankton respiration carbon stock (including phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacterial biomass particulate organic matter). also show uniform surface subsurface reductions oxygen concentration driven by warming water column increase ecosystem as well an signal upper linked to inorganic content due CO2 absorption from atmosphere respiration. stronger RCP8.5 (worst-case) scenario and, particular, eastern limited influence exchanges Strait Gibraltar that part basin. On other hand, RCP4.5 emission a tendency recover values observed beginning for several variables second half period. This result supports idea – possibly based existence system such certain buffer capacity renewal rate implementation policies reducing could indeed be effective contribute foundation sustainability science policies.