| ABSTRACT | During the last decades the modelling of the Mediterranean Sea climate has significantly evolved. At present it is feasible to produce multidecadal simulations of the evolution of Mediterranean hydrography and circulation at relatively high resolution (1/8º-1/36º). The main features are well reproduced and the simulations are routinely used to understand, predict and project the variability of physical quantities. However, there is still room for improvement: The models disagree among them and with the observations in the regional circulation patterns, the salinity fields and, in general, in the hydrography of the intermediate and deep layers. The scarcity of historical oceanographic data is also handicap that prevents an accurate tuning of the models. In this context, the Med-CORDEX initative provides the suitable framework for the improvement of the numerical modelling of the Mediterranean Sea. Med-CORDEX is the largest coordinated effort for the modelling of the Mediterranean region climate and includes simulations of the Sea done with forced ocean and coupled ocean-atmosphere models. The intercomparison among models provides an invaluable tool to understand the model limitations and to identify the elements that can help to improve the model simulations. In this presentation we will present the main results obtained from the Med-CORDEX ocean ensemble. In particular we will address how the models represent the heat and salt redistribution, the deep water formation processes, the sea level variability and the thermohaline circulation. |