## 3 Results and Discussion
### SSS and SST Maps  
To evaluate the spatial and temporal fluctuations in SSS and SST within the Maltese Islands, the RF algorithm generated three separate maps for each parameter: one for October 2022, another for October 2023, and a third for June 2024. These maps depict the extent of SSS and SST variations surrounding the Maltese Islands, as depicted in Figure 9.  
In 2022, the SSS values range from 37.69 to 37.79 PSU, exhibiting a noticeable gradient. The southern and southwestern areas of the region show comparatively lower salinity values than the northern and northeastern regions. Conversely, in 2023, the SSS values range from 37.55 to 38.55 PSU. There is a general increase in salinity throughout the region, with the western region displaying a higher saline concentration than the eastern region. In 2024, the SSS values range from 37.20 to 38.20 PSU, indicating a reduction in salinity compared to the preceding year. Nonetheless, the pattern observed in 2023 persists in 2024, with the western regions exhibiting the highest salinity levels. These fluctuations in SSS from 2022 to 2024 indicate a potential climatic shift or alteration in oceanographic conditions, potentially attributed to factors such as changes in precipitation, evaporation rates, or current patterns. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**Parameter** & **Year** & **RF PCC** & **RMSE** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{SSS} & October 2022 & 0.94 & 0.13 \\  & October 2023 & 0.92 & 0.11 \\  & June 2024 & 0.77 & 0.55 \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{SST} & October 2022 & 0.87 & 1.61 \\  & October 2023 & 0.88 & 1.48 \\ \cline{1-1}  & June 2024 & 0.66 & 0.61 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: PCC and RMSE for both SSS and SST, as generated by the RF algorithm. Regarding SST, the values in 2022 vary from 299.5 K to 302.5 K, with the highest temperatures observed in the southeastern section of the region. Conversely, the SST values in 2023 range from 295.0 K to 302.0 K, whilst those in 2024 range from 297.0 K to 299.0 K. These values display a decreasing trend over the three years, indicating a cooling pattern  
Figure 9: Maps illustrating the spatial and temporal SSS and SST variations generated by the RF algorithms for three separate years. in the SST, which could be due to a potential alteration in climatic conditions or oceanic currents. The spatial variability in SST also diminishes from 2022 to 2024. This trend may be attributed to increasing environmental stability within the region. Alternatively, as previously mentioned, it may also result from using a smaller dataset for the RF model in 2024, which could reduce its ability to accurately capture data variability, leading to less precise map predictions. A key finding from these maps is that higher variability in SST corresponds to higher variability in SSS, indicating the interdependence of SSS on SST. The observed inverse correlation, where an increase in SSS coincides with a decrease in SST, may imply climatic or oceanographic phenomena such as the intrusion of cooler, saltier waters or seasonal fluctuations in freshwater input and evaporation [34]. In the context of the Maltese Islands, various specific factors contribute to the observed inverse correlation between SSS and SST. The Mediterranean climate is characterised by warm, arid summers and rainy winters [35]. In summer, elevated temperatures increase evaporation whilst the impact on salinity variability is mitigated by other factors such as precipitation events. Moreover, the inflow of different water masses into the Mediterranean Sea, such as Atlantic waters entering via the Strait of Gibraltar, impacts local salinity and temperature patterns. Cooler Atlantic waters exhibit lower salinity levels in comparison to warmer, more saline Mediterranean waters [36]. While the relationship between SST and SSS is highly significant in a marine context, it is not the primary focus of this study.