Water Balance Trends along Climatic Variations in the Mediterranean Basin over the Past Decades

The heterogeneous ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin (MB) are becoming sensitive to water stress. To investigate climatic stress, a budget study was conducted over basin using TerraClimate simulations for long temporal range (1990–2020). According accounting, forested regions received highest precipitation (P) on average compared other land use types (annual mean ≈633 mm yr−1), and even then, they were deficit state (−0.42 yr−1). Tree plantations North Africa (Libya Morocco) also state; however, their P very low (≈12 yr−1) that of northern parts MB, Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) ≈15 yr−1. Also, balance systems (rain-fed, irrigated croplands, rangelands) either negative or near zero. As whole, basin’s annual ≈538 yr−1, AET ≈415 runoff (Q) equivalent 123 which shows strong influence ET region. Since negligible most dry areas, AET’s large contribution notable African base Atlas Mountains including Nile delta This indicates evaporation principal mechanisms MB. result climate variability Southern Europe, Turkey, western Balkans recent years, affecting making more vulnerable benchmark signifies consistent need storage vegetation basin. It two distinct clusters modeling.