Accumulation of pressures that may cause significant changes to the salinity regime in the Strait and Alboran Demarcation (MS ESAL PRE Salinity)

To identify those areas of the Strait and Alboran Demarcation whose saline regime can be significantly altered, a semi-quantitative index has been developed. All cells that are located at:
- less than 500 m from an urban discharge
- less than 500 m from an industrial discharge
- less than 1 km from a desalination station
- less than 5 km from a potentially altered river
Once all the elements have been integrated, the index has been calculated using the following formula:
SALINITY MODIFICATION INDEX = 0,5[industrial discharges] + 1[urban discharges less 30 Hm3/year] + 2[urban discharges greater 30 Hm3/year + desalination stations] + 3[potentially altered rivers]
Industrial discharges are given a similar weight, regardless of their flow, since the point of intake of the waters is unknown, whether they were sweet or saline in origin.
The resulting range of values is:
Very High: Major 4.5 / High: 3.1 to 4.5 / Medium: 1.6 to 3 / Low: 0,1 to 1,5 / Non-existent: 0