Mediterranean Sea surface warming 1985-2006

Satellite observations from 1985-2006 indicate that in the last 2 decades the temperature in the upper layer of the Mediterranean Sea has been increasing at an average (+/- SD) rate of 0.03 +/- 0.008 degrees C yr(-1) for the western basin and 0.05 +/- 0.009 degrees C yr(-1) for the eastern basin. The increases in temperature are not constant throughout the year but occur primarily during May, June and July. Maximum increases of 0.16 degrees C yr(-1) are found in June in the Tyrrhenian, Ligurian and Adriatic Seas and close to the African coast. The Aegean Sea shows maximum change in sea surface temperature during August. Only the statistically significant results are presented.