WASSERMed - Water Availability and Security in Southern EuRope and the Mediterranean

The WASSERMed Project (Water Availability and Security in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean) is aimed at analyzing, in a multi‐disciplinary way, climate change impacts in the Mediterranean area, within the frame of water‐related security threats. WASSERMed builds on current climate projections in order to address present and future uncertainties in hydrological budgets in the Mediterranean area. Starting from the assessment of changes in mean flows, frequency and magnitude of extreme precipitation, run‐off, stream flows and ground water balance, WASSERMed expands towards the recognition and quantification of social and economic factors that affect future threats to water security and increase the vulnerability of water systems. Project analyses span two geographical scales. Mediterranean‐wide analyses will focus on: • sensitive and vulnerable sectors (agriculture and tourism) to better understand climate change impacts on the specific characteristics of water demand and explore the applicable range of technical solutions, • the assessment of the impacts of changes in water availability on competitiveness, economic structure, trade flows and implicit water trade (virtual water). Case Study‐level analyses will be used to explore potential security threats, infrastructure requirements and integrated adaptation strategies in 5 areas of the Mediterranean, taking into account socio‐ economic drivers of change and potential environmental and socio‐economic implications.