Project MESCAT MEditerranean Sealevel Change And Tsunamis A

Project MESCAT (MEditerranean Sealevel Change And Tsunamis) A step forward in Mediterranean marine science and sea-level related risk prevention

Motivation (1/2) • Sea level is a key variable in the region: o Affected by climate change, will have an enormous impact on economy and population o Risk of Tsunami XXI century Sea level change in the Mediterranean and its components Tsunami caused by the Argel earthquake, 21 st May 2003

Motivation (2/2) • Monitor sea level is neither expensive or extremely complex, but… strong and unacceptable North-South unbalance!

The gap • Present situation: o Impossible to carry out the required sea level monitoring o Insufficient knowledge, with the required spatial detail, of sea level evolution under climate change scenarios • We need: o To complete the Med sea tide gauge network o To forecast with sufficient spatial detail future sea level changes and its impacts o To build an international network of institutions and persons to work on this problem Our proposal to solve it: MESCAT

MESCAT objectives • Complete the Mediterranean tide gauge network o Modular approach: only interested actors o Distributed approach: responsibility from the first day to local technicians • Research on future sea level change, country by country • Study sea level impact in pilot areas o Modular approach: only interested actors

Benefits • Tide gauge network will be used to describe sea level characteristics and dynamics in the region • Highly decentralized network will promote local capacity building • Updated estimations of sea level along the 21 st century for all Mediterranean countries. Important for tourism, harbours… • Real-time measurements for the Tsunami warning system and other applications. • Integrated in: Mon. GOOS, EMODNET, NEAMTWS, Med. CLIVAR… Budget • Modular… example with 8 station, climate change estimation and 1 impact study: 980. 000 euros

Conclusions • MESCAT (or a very similar project) is a NEED in the area • The cost/benefit ratio is extremely low • Capacity building and creation of a network of technicians and researchers is in the core of the project The team is ready and we are looking forward to start doing the job