Global Warming Will Not Lead To A Mediterranean Sea In The Middle Of America Despite Viral Photoshop Image

A viral photo posted on Twitter over the weekend of North America with the Mediterranean Sea pasted on top of it has been identified as a non-accurate projection of climate change consequences.

The "Mediterranean Sea of America" Google Maps parody, which user @mjr880 posted along with a link to a workout program they wished to promote, was interpreted by many as a joke.

Scientists say this map represents the US in 30 years if we don’t reverse climate change. pic.twitter.com/8AH8NfaqCY

— Michael (@mrj880) July 8, 2022

It’s heartbreaking how much climate change has affected the migration pattern of the Mediterranean Sea 😨 https://t.co/sGpm7X066l

— 🌱🐜 (Pl)ant Chris 🌱🐜 (@PlantChriss) July 9, 2022

zooming in and squinting at this map to figure out if my specific neighborhood in chicago is going to be underwater or beachfront property when the mediterranean sea teleports to the US https://t.co/bD4myw36yT

— lemme coach da sox (@liamcommaonline) July 9, 2022

A few, however, did not appear to get the joke. Instead, they spread alarmist messages.

Do climate change ideologues really believe that the Mediterranean Sea will magically materialize in the middle of the United States in 30 years? I do not, yet I'm the conspiracy theorist who can't follow the science? https://t.co/0y3DJ6i4WJ

— James M (@jmclennan8) July 9, 2022

stopping climate change solely to stop a second italy from being made https://t.co/965C7g2Q98

— p (@_troIlface) July 9, 2022

Others understood the joke but apparently didn’t find it funny, alleging that spreading misinformation helped to support the claims of climate deniers.

I believe climate change is a problem and we should be doing everything to reduce the impact, but photoshopping the Mediterranean Sea over the United States doesn't help things. https://t.co/mFznI94Lnt

— Jimmy (@RandomIgnorance) July 9, 2022

Twitter’s response to the map picture became another entry in the long saga of Americans not understanding basic geography.

Climate change moved the Mediterranean Sea into the United States?

The Appalachians are underwater but Florida isn't?

Congratulations United States education system

— RedHat Pitbull 3 (@PitbullRedhat) July 10, 2022

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It's literally the Mediterranean sea placed in the center of the U.S. God, people are numbskulls! https://t.co/bFvpVqor1g

— Epsteins Sheet (@JerseyJoe1234) July 9, 2022

The Associated Press (or AP News), the long-standing reputable wire service, posted a fact check of the map as it spread online, reminding those who didn’t know already that climate change will more likely lead to the submersion of Miami, Florida than Denver, Colorado (which is famously a mile above sea level).

A map circulating on social media shows the Mediterranean Sea laid over the United States. Its creator says it is intended to compare their relative sizes, not to show the potential impacts of climate change on the U.S., despite false claims online.https://t.co/T7t0H5h1bc

— AP Fact Check (@APFactCheck) July 10, 2022

A number of users found it hilarious that AP felt the need to fact-check an obviously photoshopped map.

"An image created in 2015 that shows the Mediterranean Sea superimposed onto a map of the US is recirculating on social media along with a false claim, Reuters and The Associated Press report…and is unrelated to climate change, according to The AP."

OMG. You don't say! 🤡🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/tzVREP8O1w

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) July 10, 2022

Others provided more accurate maps of climate change impacts in order to correct any misconceptions the fake map created.

you are wrong this is just the mediterranean sea meanwhile i have the accurate map of what the us will look like in 30 years if we dont reverse climate change https://t.co/Kzn7MeLgeH pic.twitter.com/5ZDxt5XRed

— Eiskaffee (@EiskaffeeOS) July 9, 2022