The University of Granada has developed the first study on the sensitivity to global change of the 93 estuaries in Spain through the project called “Physical and biotic sensitivity of peninsular estuaries to global change” (SENSES), which has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation.

Estuaries, transition zones between the river and marine environment, are the coastal systems most vulnerable to change, hence their high biological productivity, sustenance of high biodiversity and important ecosystem services and human activities at stake. This research has studied the physical and biotic sensitivity of the estuaries of Spain to global change.

Thanks to this project, the vulnerability of 93 estuaries to climate change has been assessed, by 2080. The variation not only in the average sea level has been measured, but also in the temperature and salinity of the water, in the intensity of the astronomical tide and in the flows of fresh water. Adaptation measures have been proposed to reduce the possible impacts detected.