XBT monitoring of a meridian section across the western Mediterranean Sea.

Fuda, J., Millot, C., Taupier-Letage, I., Send, Uwe and Bocognano, J. (2000) XBT monitoring of a meridian section across the western Mediterranean Sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 47 . pp. 2191-2218. DOI 10.1016/S0967-0637(00)00018-2.

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Abstract

During the Thetis-2/MAST-2 tomography experiment, T7-XBT calibrated (accuracy ∼0.05°C) probes were launched ∼28 km apart between France and Algeria, twice a month from Feb. to Sep. 1994. Combined with infrared images, altimetric data and ship drifts, they provide definite information on the structure, drift and role of the eddy-like mesoscale phenomena generated by the Algerian Current instability. When embedded in this alongslope current, these phenomena generally propagate downstream at a few km/day and are markedly asymmetrical. Because of the topography in the eastern part of the Algerian Basin, they separate from the current, become more symmetrical and follow an anticlockwise circuit in the open basin. These phenomena are deeper than ∼750 m and entrain seaward pieces of the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) vein flowing along the Sardinian slope, thus being responsible of the large spatial and temporal variability of the LIW distribution in the open basin. The non-existence of a LIW vein flowing westward across the Algerian Basin is definitely demonstrated. In the Gulf of Lions, new insights are provided into the formation and spreading of the Winter Intermediate Water (WIW), which is the WesternMediterranean counterpart of LIW. Considering the large amount of WIW formed during this mild winter, it is clear that this water has not received enough attention yet, and is certainly a major component of the Mediterranean outflow at Gibraltar. Finally, the XBT data account for the eastward flow of the WesternMediterranean Deep Water (WMDW) off Algeria.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Physical Oceanography; Western Mediterranean Sea; Gulf of Lions; Algerian Basin; Circulation; Mesoscale phenomena; Eddies
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB1 Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics > FB1-PO Physical Oceanography
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Elsevier
Projects: MAST
Expeditions/Models/Experiments:
Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2008 17:24
Last Modified: 05 Aug 2020 07:01
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/7309

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