Six years of T/P altimeter data and tidal gauge records from seΙected stations are used in order to assess the anual and interannual variability of sea level in the Mediterranean Steric fluctuation induced by surface buoyancy fluxes account for 50 % of sea level variance. A predominant feature of the variability in the Aegean sea level is due to the excessive buoyancy loss and consequent dense water formation in early nineties.