1. Introduction
Evidence of global warming in response to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases levels is accumulating [1,2]. Based on atmospheric ocean-coupled global circulation models
(AOGCMs), it has been suggested that a doubling of ambient carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations
could increase the global mean air temperature by 1.5 °C to 4.5 °C (with high confidence) [2]. Climate
change and global warming will result in increased temperatures, strongly affecting many aspects of
hydrological systems, water resources, coastal zones and oceans [2,3].