Editorial: Climate and environmental changes in circum-Mediterranean regions

Abstract

Circum-Mediterranean regions, consisting of South Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, are located at the crossroads of global environmental patterns. There is a convergence between various maritime conditions and different continental air masses from adjacent extensive lands marked by extreme differences in topographical features. At a spatial scale, the climate and environmental parameters vary considerably across circum-Mediterranean regions. At a temporal scale, significant climate and environmental changes have occurred over the past thousands of years. Currently, circum-Mediterranean regions are experiencing challenges ranging from drought and fire to intense floods and water quality concerns under the changing climate. Further warming will lead to an unbearable future for human beings and ecosystems.