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An analysis is made of the historical datasets covering almost 40 years (1976-2014) in the Ligurian Sea, in the North-Western Mediterranean. Two transects are studied: one at the boundary with the Tyrrhenian sea, in the Corsica Channel, the other between Nice on the French coast and Calvì on Corsica. The variability in the circulation patterns and changes in the hydrological properties of the water masses on seasonal and interannual time scales are investigated. For every cruise we chose the closest transect to the chosen ideal sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution describes projections of the maximum level that water will reach during a storm along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the next decades (2021-2050). The computation accounts for changes of marine storminess (maximum wave amplitude and maximum storm surge level) and for the steric contribution (thermosteric expansion, halosteric contraction) to the mean sea level, but not for addition of water mass to the basin through the Gibraltar Strait. This analysis is based on an ensemble of regional climate model simulations (produced by the CIRCE fp6 project) covering the period 1951-2050 under the A1B emission scenario, whose results have been used for forcing a hydro-dynamical shallow water mode and a wave model, obtaining estimates of storm surge levels and maximum amplitude of ocean waves, respectively. Data produced by high resolution models of the Mediterranean Sea circulation have been used for diagnosing the steric sea level change. The climate change signal is computed as the difference between maximum water level statistics in the 1971-2000 and 2021-2050 periods. Results show that the decrease of storm surge level and wave height will compensate for the positive steric effects in the next decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real transfer function and the phase shift between sea surface height (SSH) and sea surface buoyancy (SSB) were estimated from the output of a realistic eddy-resolving model of the Mediterranean Sea circulation. The analysis of their temporal evolution unveiled the existence of a clear seasonal cycle closely related to that of the mixed layer depth. The phase shifts between SSH and SSB attain their minimum for deep mixed layers, which is different from zero. Besides, the spectral slope of the transfer function at scales shorter than 100 km fluctuates between k−1 and k−2. For deep mixed layers, it is close to k−1, as predicted by the surface quasigeostrophic (SQG) solution. At longer wavelengths, it is approximately constant under the different environmental conditions in all of the subbasins analyzed with the exception of the Gulf of Lions. The capability to observe sea surface temperature (SST) from satellites motivated the extension of this analysis to SST and SSH. Results showed a similar qualitative behavior but with larger phase shifts. In spite of the presence of a phase shift, even for deep mixed layers, results revealed that it is still possible to reconstruct surface dynamics from SST using a transfer function, provided that the mixed layer is deep enough. For the present study, a threshold value of 70 m was enough to identify the appropriate environmental conditions. In addition, the results revealed that a precise estimation of the transfer function significantly improves the reconstruction of the flow in comparison with the application of the classical SQG solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different combinations of the EGM2008 global model and the GOCE space-wise solution are used to estimate the geodetic mean dynamic topography and the corresponding surface geostrophic circulation of the Mediterranean Sea. In order to assess the accuracy of the GOCE-derived products for oceanographic applications, the mean currents obtained from the geoid models are compared with the mean surface geostrophic velocities measured by drifters and satellite altimetry data. The mean dynamic topographies based on GOCE data combined with EGM2008 generally describe the main circulation patterns and dynamical features in the Mediterranean Sea, except in few coastal regions and in the semi-enclosed Adriatic and Aegean Seas, and improve the results obtained with previous geoid models. The root mean square differences between the geostrophic velocities and the GOCE/EGM2008-derived currents are smaller than 10 cm/s in all the sectors of the Mediterranean basin, whereas they are larger than 12 - 15 cm/s using the EGM2008 solution. The minimum discrepancies and the best complex correlation coefficient are achieved from the EGMSPWbc solution based on an order-wise block diagonal approximation of the GOCE error covariance structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspects of hydrography and large-scale circulation observed in the Mediterranean Sea during the M84/3 and P414 cruises (April and June 2011, respectively) are presented. In contrast to most of the recent expeditions, which were limited to special areas of the basin, these two cruises, especially the M84/3, offered the opportunity of delineating a quasi-synoptic picture of the distribution of the relevant physical parameters along a section extending through the whole Mediterranean, from the Lebanese coast up to the Strait of Gibraltar. The foci of our analysis are the observed water mass properties and velocity fields. The first are investigated through T -S diagrams and an optimum multiparameter (OMP) analysis and the results are discussed also in the context of recently identified modes of variability; the second are studied by comparing the velocity fields observed using a vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler and those calculated from the observed density fields. Overall, a distribution of temperature, salinity and geostrophic velocities emerges, which is far from that observed before the beginning of the so-called "Eastern Mediterranean Transient", a major climatic shift in the hydrography and circulation of the Mediterranean Sea which began at the end of the 1980s. The picture which emerges helps to further address the complexity of long-term evolution of hydrography and large-scale circulation of the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanographic processes play a key role in influencing the structure of the marine planktonic ecosystems. Taking advantage of the quasi-simultaneous collection of a large ichthyoplanktonic dataset in different regions of the Central Mediterranean Sea (Italian/Maltese, Tunisian and Libyan waters), this study aimed at the identification of the main environmental drivers that control the structure of the larval fish assemblages. Spatial distribution and taxa composition were related to physical forcings (geostrophic currents and wind stress) and environmental conditions (bottom depth, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a concentration). ANOSIM and SIMPER identified contribution of fish taxa to the average Bray-Curtis dissimilarity among regions. In Italian and Libyan waters, two assemblages (neritic and oceanic) were identified, while a mixed assemblage characterized only some stations. Two neritic and one oceanic assemblages were discriminated in Tunisian waters. Random Forest classification model highlighted the essential role of the bathymetry, while Lagrangian simulations evidenced the action of the hydrodynamics in mixing neritic and oceanic assemblages in the Italian/Maltese and partially in Libyan waters. These findings highlighted the importance of the multidisciplinary approach and shed light on the potential value of the ichthyoplanktonic surveys for the assessment of the state of the marine ecosystem and the conservation of the fishery resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal mesoscale eddies were evidenced during a high-frequency radar campaign in the Gulf of Lions (GoL), northwestern Mediterranean Sea, from June 2005 to January 2007. These anticyclonic eddies are characterized by repeated and intermittent occurrences as well as variable lifetime. This paper aims at studying the link between these new surface observations with similar structures suggested at depth by traditional acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements and investigates the eddy generation and driving mechanisms by means of an academic numerical study. The influence of the wind forcing on the GoL circulation and the eddy generation is analyzed, using a number of idealized configurations in order to investigate the interaction with river discharge, buoyancy, and bathymetric effects. The wind forcing is shown to be crucial for two different generation mechanisms: A strong northerly offshore wind (Mistral) generates a vortex column due to the bathymetric constraint of a geostrophic barotropic current, which can surface after the wind relaxes; a southerly onshore wind generates a freshwater bulge from the Rhône river discharge, which detaches from the coast and forms a well-defined surface anticyclonic eddy based on buoyancy gradients. These structures are expected to have important consequences in terms of dispersion or retention of biogeochemical material at local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study of mesoscale and submesoscale [hereafter (sub)mesoscale] hydrodynamic features is essential for understanding thermal and biogeochemical exchanges between coastal areas and the open ocean. In this context, a glider mission was conducted in August 2008, closely co-located and almost simultaneously launched with a JASON 2 altimetric pass, to fully characterize the currents associated with regional (sub)mesoscale processes regularly observed to the north of Mallorca (Mediterranean Sea). A synoptic view from satellite remote-sensing fields, before and during the glider mission, provided a descriptive picture of the main surface dynamics at the Balearic Basin scale. To quantify the absolute surface geostrophic currents, the coastal altimetry-derived current computation was improved and cross-compared with its equivalent derived from glider measurements. Model simulations were then validated both qualitatively and statistically with the multi-sensor observations. The combined use of modeling and multi-sensor observational data reveals the baroclinic structure of the Balearic Current and the Northern Current and a small-scale anticyclonic eddy observed northeast of the Mallorca coast (current∼15cm/s, <30km in extent and >180m deep). This mesoscale structure, partially intercepted by the glider and along-track altimetric measurements, is marked by relatively strong salinity gradients and not, as is more typical, temperature gradients. Finally, the use of the validated model simulation also shows that the geostrophic component of this small-scale eddy is controlled by sub-surface salinity gradients. We hypothesize that this structure contains recently modified Atlantic water arriving from the strait of Ibiza due to a northerly wind, which strengthens the northward geostrophic circulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An intensive observational programme of the Balearic Front, in the Western Mediterranean Sea, was carried out using conventional (CTDs from a ship) and new technologies (gliders). The strategy consisted of repeated sampling of a section almost perpendicular to the Balearic Current situated to the north of Mallorca Island. This section is coincident with track 773 of the ENVISAT satellite. In this work we present results of missions undertaken in July and September 2007. In July the sampling was designed to collect in-situ data from a ship and a coastal glider, almost simultaneously with the passage of the radar altimeter on board the ENVISAT satellite. In September the sampling was done only by the glider platform, and also simultaneously with the passage of the satellite. The Balearic Front was clearly detected by salinity (not temperature), with lower values (37.4 PSU) near the coast that are likely to be related to the input of recent Atlantic Water through the Mallorca Channel. The observed width of the front was about 35–40 km, with a vertical extension of 200 m. It had a significantly different pattern between the July and September samplings, which confirms the high mesoscale variability of this frontal area. Using a reference depth level of 180 m we have obtained maximum geostrophic velocities of 40–45 cm/s, flowing northeastwards along the north Mallorca coast. These velocity estimates are not sensitive to the test reference level (600 m), indicating that the layer between 200 and 600 m does not play a key role in the dynamics of the upper layer (200 m). A dynamic height rise from July to September (in 70 days) of about 3–7 cm reflects the seasonal cycle of sea level due mainly to thermosteric expansion of the water column. This gives a rise rate in the range of 1.3–3 cm/month, which is in agreement with previous estimates in the Mediterranean Sea. Absolute dynamic topography from altimetry data reveals good coherence with the dynamic height from the glider data in the area where there are common observations. In September, ENVISAT captured the sharp gradient observed with in-situ data, with mean velocities of about 24 cm/s, but with a smaller variance than the glider due to the larger wavelength of the filter applied to the altimeter data. From the technological point of view the observational experiment has confirmed the feasibility of using a coastal glider to monitor the spatial and low-frequency variability of the coastal ocean. The coastal glider was appropriate in this particular case since the vertical extension of the front only reaches up to 200 m. The autonomous platform was shown to be strongly robust, and able to monitor the area even under adverse meteorological conditions. This represents an important achievement, since under the same conditions the CTD sampling from a traditional research vessel would normally have been cancelled. Moreover, this type of platform allows autonomous collection of CTD casts and biogeochemical measurements at high spatial resolutions and at very low costs compared to conventional methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The circulation of the Gulf of Lion, a large continental shelf north of the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea, is complex and highly variable. During stratified conditions, unexpected barotropic eastward currents can be detected, mostly in the western part of the gulf. Care is given to retrieve inertial oscillations when necessary. The primitive-equation free-surface model Symphonie is used to investigate the processes which can generate and influence these eastward currents. Three main wind forcing create these barotropic eastward currents: northwesterlies channelled in the western part of the gulf, northwesterlies and north winds both homogeneous throughout the gulf. In the first case, the wind stress curl of the channeled northwesterlies generates an elongated cyclonic circulation in the western part of the Gulf of Lion. The southern part of this cyclonic circulation is a barotropic eastward current, detected west of longitude 4.5°E. In the second case, a homogeneous northwesterly wind creates an intrusion of the along-slope geostrophic current on the shelf, generating a strong coastal jet going northward above Cap Creus. In stratified conditions, intrusion at this western end of the continental shelf only occurs during this type of wind forcing. The coastal jet goes north then detaches itself from the coast and goes eastward, north of the 100 m isobath. In the third case, a homogeneous north wind creates an eastward current which occupies the whole shelf north of latitude 43°N. The first two cases are studied in more details since cruise data corroborate the model simulations. The striking characteristic of these eastward currents is that they are barotropic despite the stratified conditions. Otherwise, their amplitude and exact locations are slightly different for the different cases of circulation. These eastward currents probably have an impact on the residence time of water masses in the Gulf of Lion, and hence on the total water budget of the gulf, as well as on primary production and biogeochemical fluxes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a data-based approach to study the mean and the climatology of the surface geostrophic currents (SGC) for the Mediterranean Sea, using satellite ocean surface altimetry observations for 22 years (1993-2014) in conjunction with the geoid solution derived from the space mission of GOCE (gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation explorer; Release 4). The resultant product is the Mediterranean SGC velocity field, that we denote by SGCGOCE-Alt, given in spatial resolution of 1/4∘ and monthly time resolution. It exhibits smaller scales and lower dynamic intensities in comparison with open oceans, making the Mediterranean Sea a challenging test case for our satellite-based analysis. The mean SGCGOCE-Alt is largely consistent with previous findings but with additional circulation features in time and space. We also compare our results with the SGC output from the regional hydrodynamic model of Mercator that assimilates satellite altimetry, satellite sea surface temperature, and in situ observations. The prominent SGC features agree well not only on the large and subbasin scales but also in the widespread mesoscale dynamics. We find, however, comparatively lower intensities than the Mercator model in general, with differences that are on average around 7 cm/s, but might reach 13 cm/s in some coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of wind and waves on the surface dynamics of the Mediterranean Sea are assessed using a modified Ekman model including a Stokes‐Coriolis force in the momentum equation. Using 25 years of observations, we documented intermittent but recurrent episodes during which Ekman and Stokes currents substantially modulate the total mesoscale dynamics by two nonexclusive mechanisms: (a) by providing a vigorous input of momentum (e.g., where regional winds are stronger) and/or (b) by opposing forces to the main direction of the geostrophic component. To properly characterize the occurrence and variability of these dynamical regimes, we perform an objective classification combining self‐organizing maps and wavelet coherence analyses. It allows proposing a new regional classification of the Mediterranean Sea based on the respective contributions of wind, wave, and geostrophic components to the total mesoscale surface dynamics. We found that the effects of wind and waves are more prominent in the northwestern Mediterranean, while the southwestern and eastern basins are mainly dominated by the geostrophic component. The resulting temporal variability patterns show a strong seasonal signal and cycles of 5–6 years in the total kinetic energy arising from both geostrophic and ageostrophic components. Moreover, the whole basin, specially the regions characterized by strong wind‐ and wave‐induced currents, shows a characteristic period of variability at 5 years. This can be related to climate modes of variability. Regional trends in the geostrophic and ageostrophic currents show an intensification of 0.058 ± 1.43 · 10−5 cm/s per year. Plain Language Summary: The ocean dynamics plays a decisive role in the global balance of essential variables, such as heat, CO2, or primary production, as well as in the dispersion of pollutants. However, the physical processes that control the mesoscale dynamics and its variability in the surface of the Mediterranean Sea is not fully understood. Therefore, we have analyzed the regional contribution of the geostrophic and the wind‐ and waves‐induced currents using a classification method based on a machine‐learning algorithm. We find that the effect of wind and waves is stronger over regions of the northwestern Mediterranean, while the southwestern and eastern basin is mainly dominated by geostrophy. We observe that regions where wind and wave dominate the dynamics co‐vary with the main Mediterranean climate modes of variability. The geostrophic currents show an intensification with a clear shift in 2002, which suggests that this positive trend could be a part of a large decadal oscillation. Key Points: Dynamically coherent regions in the Mediterranean are defined based on the Ekman, Stokes, and geostrophic components variabilityAgeostrophy dominates surface circulation short‐term variability and exceed geostrophy over Northwest Mediterranean Sea in winterVariations in the kinetic energy correlate well with the main Mediterranean climate modes in regions dominated by Ekman and Stokes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The surface currents of the Levantine sub-basin (Mediterranean Sea) are described using 18 years (1992–2010) of drifter data and satellite-derived sea level anomalies. The combination of drifter and satellite data allowed to estimate maps of surface geostrophic circulation and to obtain more accurate pseudo-Eulerian velocity statistics for different time periods. Seasonal and interannual variability of surface currents are investigated with particular focus on the main sub-basin eddies of the eastern Levantine. The mean velocity field depicts the typical patterns of the along-slope and offshore currents and outlines the sub-regions where eddies are generated recurrently (west Egyptian coast, Ierapetra, Mersa-Matruh, south-west of Cyprus, Israel–Lebanon coast, Latakia) or persist steadily (Rhodes Gyre). Highly variable and energetic currents are observed between the Ierapetra and Mersa-Matruh regions, as the result of the interaction of the Mid-Mediterranean Jet meandering in between, and interacting with, the eddies generated by the instability of the coastal current. Seasonal pseudo-Eulerian maps show the current field stronger in summer and weaker in winter, mainly in the western Levantine and in the Cyprus–Syria Passage. The Shikmona Eddy displays a periodic nature with higher intensities during the cold months and an enhanced activity in the period 1998–2005. The Cyprus Eddy has a less periodic nature, characterised by events of high activity and periods in which it dominates as a single enlarged eddy in the southeast Levantine, eventually including the Shikmona Eddy. The Latakia Eddy is mainly cyclonic with higher intensities in summer and fall; occasional weekly or monthly inversions of circulation from cyclonic to anticyclonic are triggered by the interaction between the MMJ and the northward coastal meandering current. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Synoptic monthly gridded (SMG) world ocean temperature (T) and salinity (S) fields with (1° × 1°) horizontal resolution and 28 standard vertical levels from the ocean surface to 3000 m deep have been established from the observational (T, S) profiles from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) World Ocean Database (WOD) from January 1945 to December 2014 and the Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Programme (GTSPP) from January 1990 to December 2009 using the optimal spectral decomposition (OSD) method. The world ocean abstract geostrophic currents (u, v) are calculated from the 4D SMG‐WOD and SMG‐GTSPP (T, S) data using the P‐vector inverse method. The SMG‐WOD (T, S, u, v) and SMG‐GTSPP (T, S, u, v) fields with a higher horizontal resolution (0.25° × 0.25°) have also been produced for the Mediterranean Sea, the Japan/East Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Altimetry has become a powerful tool to understand the dynamics of the deep-sea ocean circulation. Despite the technical problems encountered in the coastal zone by this observational technique, resulting in large data gaps in those areas, solutions already exist to mitigate this issue and to allow the retrieval of coastal information from existing altimetric data. Using some of these solutions, we have reprocessed a new set of 14.5years of the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellite altimeter data over the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, leading to a significant increase in the quantity of available data near coastlines. Time series of geostrophic surface velocity anomalies have been computed from the along-track altimeter sea level anomalies. In this paper, we evaluate the ability of these altimeter-derived currents to capture the main surface circulation features and the associated seasonal variability in the area of interest. In-situ ADCP current measurements are used to estimate the accuracy of altimeter geostrophic surface velocity anomalies at different locations on the shelf edge. The results indicate good qualitative altimeter performances at seasonal time scales, confirming that altimetry is reliable to observe synoptic variations of the Liguro–Provençal–Catalan Current System. The seasonal evolution of the shelf edge flow is then documented using results from satellite altimetry and from sea surface temperature (SST). The regional picture of the shelf edge circulation that emerges agrees fairly well with previous knowledge (the flow is much stronger during winter than during summer) but also reveals interesting aspects of the coastal current system: (1) the characteristics of the seasonal cycle observed appear highly consistent along the Northwestern Mediterranean shelf break, suggesting a continuous current from the Tyrrhenian to the Balearic Seas, (2) the relationship with the Balearic Current appears somewhat more complex and suggests that its evolution is controlled by another inflow contribution, at least in spring, (3) the seasonal variations of the shelf edge flow over a particular year can show large discrepancies with the averaged picture presented in this study, since large year to year differences are observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oceanic fronts are dynamically active regions of the global ocean that support upwelling and downwelling with significant implications for phytoplankton production and export. However (on time scales  ≳ the inertial time scale), the vertical velocity is 103–104 times weaker than the horizontal velocity and is difficult to observe directly. Using intensive field observations in conjunction with a process study ocean model, we examine vertical motion and its effect on phytoplankton fluxes at multiple spatial horizontal scales in an oligotrophic region in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The mesoscale ageostrophic vertical velocity (∼10 m/day) inferred from our observations shapes the large‐scale phytoplankton distribution but does not explain the narrow (1–10 km wide) features of high chlorophyll content extending 40–60 m downward from the deep chlorophyll maximum. Using modeling, we show that downwelling submesoscale features concentrate 80% of the downward vertical flux of phytoplankton within just 15% of the horizontal area. These submesoscale spatial structures serve as conduits between the surface mixed layer and pycnocline and can contribute to exporting carbon from the sunlit surface layers to the ocean interior. Key Points: High‐resolution observations and numerical simulations of mesoscale and submesoscale features at an intense oceanic frontVertical velocities associated with submesoscale features are significantly higher than on the mesoscaleDownwelling submesoscale features concentrate 80% of downward flux of phytoplankton within 15% of the surface area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topical issue includes 22 papers on different aspects of meteorology and climatology of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The papers are grouped into three categories, based on scale analysis of processes, and whether the study is dominantly related to the atmospheric or oceanic phenomenon. The category “Storms, Extremes and Mesoscale Processes” encompasses seven papers, ranging from observation and modelling data analysis of extreme atmospheric (severe winds, hailstorms, waterspout, cyclones) and oceanic (meteotsunamis, surface waves) events, occurring locally, but being connected to wider patterns and processes. The six papers in category “Atmospheric Climate, Variability and Climate Change” contain analyses of long-term observations and climate projection outputs, but also assess atmosphere-ocean-land interactions and cycles, that are important in a climate perspective. The category “Ocean Climate and Variability” includes nine papers, which map ocean processes (sea level variability, circulation, sea surface temperatures, vertical thermal structure, water masses and dense water formation) on a climate timescale, both, in the Mediterranean and Black Sea sub-basins, or taking them as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents the biomass and spatial distribution of Sardinella aurita in the Libyan, Maltese and southern Sicily waters, estimated during four acoustic surveys in summer 2008 and 2010. Strong differences in terms of both spatial distribution and total biomass between years and areas were found, with higher total biomass in 2010 than in 2008 in both southern and northern areas of the central Mediterranean. Habitat suitability and changes in the spatial dynamics of round sardinella among areas and years are then explored in relation to total biomass variation and environmental factors. The area of presence of S. aurita increased in the Maltese and Sicilian waters in 2010 with respect to 2008, while most of the total biomass observed in the two years occupied the same proportion of the continental shelf in Libyan waters. The link between environmental conditions and S. aurita area of presence and aggregation was investigated by means of generalized additive models (GAM). The application of GAM singled out the key role of depth and temperature in driving higher round sardinella aggregations, as they were able to explain in both years about the 48% of total deviance in the case of strictly positive values. Favourable habitat for round sardinella was found in waters shallower than 60 m depths, with a clear peak around 40 m depth. Favourable temperature values were above 22°C for presence/absence case and above 24°C when GAM was applied on strictly positive values. Overall S. aurita biomass and distribution were discussed in the light of the classical models proposed to describe the fish spatial dynamics in relation to an increase in total biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined use of field data on anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus, 1758) egg distribution in the Central Mediterranean Sea on both sides of the Strait of Sicily (Sicilian-Maltese and Tunisian waters) and Lagrangian simulations were used to assess the pattern of connectivity between these two sub-areas as a result of spawning activity. The field data were collected during ichthyoplankton surveys carried out in summer 2008 and 2010. The simulation runs showed considerable (up to 20%) rates of particle exchange in both directions (from Tunisian to Sicilian-Maltese waters and vice versa). However, considering the typical high mortality rates of anchovy early stages, the actual larval exchange rates across the Sicily Strait are supposed to be significantly lower (<1%), supporting the hypothesis that the anchovy population sub-units in the Strait of Sicily can be considered as separate fish stocks for the evaluation of their optimum exploitation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use the unstructured grid model SCHISM to simulate the thermohydrodynamics in a chain of baroclinic, interconnected basins. The model shows a good skill in simulating the horizontal circulation and vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, and currents. The magnitude and phases of the seasonal changes of circulation are consistent with earlier observations. Among the mesoscale and subbasin-scale circulation features that are realistically simulated are the anticyclonic coastal eddies, the Sebastopol and Batumi eddies, the Marmara Sea outflow around the southern coast of the Limnos Island, and the pathway of the cold water originating from the shelf. The superiority of the simulations compared to earlier numerical studies is demonstrated with the example of model capabilities to resolve the strait dynamics, gravity currents originating from the straits, high-salinity bottom layer on the shallow shelf, as well as the multiple intrusions from the Bosporus Strait down to 700 m depth. The warm temperature intrusions from the strait produce the warm water mass in the intermediate layers of the Black Sea. One novel result is that the seasonal intensification of circulation affects the interbasin exchange, thus allowing us to formulate the concept of circulation-controlled interbasin exchange. To the best of our knowledge, the present numerical simulations, for the first time, suggest that the sea level in the interior part of the Black Sea can be lower than the sea level in the Marmara Sea and even in some parts of the Aegean Sea. The comparison with observations shows that the timings and magnitude of exchange flows are also realistically simulated, along with the blocking events. The short-term variability of the strait transports is largely controlled by the anomalies of wind. The simulations demonstrate the crucial role of the narrow and shallow strait of Bosporus in separating the two pairs of basins: Aegean-Marmara Seas from one side and Azov-Black Seas from the other side. The straits of Kerch and Dardanelles provide sufficient interbasin connectivity that prevents large phase lags of the sea levels in the neighboring basins. The two-layer flows in the three straits considered here show different dependencies upon the net transport, and the spatial variability of this dependence is also quite pronounced. We show that the blocking of the surface flow can occur at different net transports, thus casting doubt on a previous approach of using simple relationships to prescribe (steady) outflow and inflow. Specific attention is paid to the role of synoptic atmospheric forcing for the basin-wide circulation and redistribution of mass in the Black Sea. An important controlling process is the propagation of coastal waves. One major conclusion from this research is that modeling the individual basins separately could result in large inaccuracies because of the critical importance of the cascading character of these interconnected basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main oceanographic objective of the future SWOT mission is to better characterize the ocean mesoscale and sub-mesoscale circulation, by observing a finer range of ocean topography dynamics down to 20 km wavelength. Despite the very high spatial resolution of the future satellite, it will not capture the time evolution of the shorter mesoscale signals, such as the formation and evolution of small eddies. SWOT will have an exact repeat cycle of 21 days, with near repeats around 5-10 days, depending on the latitude. Here, we investigate a technique to reconstruct the missing 2D SSH signal in the time between two satellite revisits. We use the dynamical interpolation (DI) technique developed by Ubelmann et al. (2015). Based on potential vorticity (hereafter PV) conservation using a one and a half layer quasi-geostrophic model, it features an active advection of the SSH field. This model has been tested in energetic open ocean regions such as the Gulf Stream and the Californian Current, and has given promising results. Here, we test this model in the Western Mediterranean Sea, a lower energy region with complex small scale physics, and compare the SSH reconstruction with the high-resolution Symphonie model. We investigate an extension of the simple dynamical model including a separated mean circulation. We find that the DI gives a 16-18% improvement in the reconstruction of the surface height and eddy kinetic energy fields, compared with a simple linear interpolation, and a 37% improvement in the Northern Current subregion. Reconstruction errors are higher during winter and autumn but statistically, the improvement from the DI is also better for these seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the LAgrangian Transport EXperiment (LATEX) project was to study the influence of coastal mesoscale and submesoscale physical processes on circulation dynamics, cross-shelf exchanges, and biogeochemistry in the western continental shelf of the Gulf of Lion, Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. LATEX was a five-year multidisciplinary project based on the combined analysis of numerical model simulations and multi-platform field experiments. The model component included a ten-year realistic 3D numerical simulation, with a 1 km horizontal resolution over the gulf, nested in a coarser 3 km resolution model. The in situ component involved four cruises, including a large-scale multidisciplinary campaign with two research vessels in 2010. This review concentrates on the physics results of LATEX, addressing three main subjects: (1) the investigation of the mesoscale to submesoscale processes. The eddies are elliptic, baroclinic, and anticyclonic; the strong thermal and saline front is density compensated. Their generation processes are studied; (2) the development of sampling strategies for their direct observations. LATEX has implemented an adaptive strategy Lagrangian tool, with a reference software available on the web, to perform offshore campaigns in a Lagrangian framework; (3) the quantification of horizontal mixing and cross-shelf exchanges. Lateral diffusivity coefficients, calculated in various ways including a novel technique, are in the range classically encountered for their associated scales. Cross-shelf fluxes have been calculated, after retrieving the near-inertial oscillation contribution. Further perspectives are discussed, especially for the ongoing challenge of studying submesoscale features remotely and from in situ data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drifter observations in the Mediterranean Sea between 1986 and 2012 have allowed study of important aspects of the surface dynamics in most areas of this marginal sea, including: interannual and seasonal variabilities; basin, subbasin, and mesoscale circulation features; inertial and tidal currents; coastal circulation; and relative dispersion by surface waters. This paper reviews selected important studies, carried out in the last two decades or still in progress, that used or are using Mediterranean drifter observations and ancillary remotely sensed observations (satellite altimetry and high-frequency coastal radars). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meddies, intra-thermocline eddies of Mediterranean water, can often be detected at the sea surface as positive sea-level anomalies. Here we study the surface signature of several meddies tracked with RAFOS floats and AVISO altimetry. While pushing its way through the water column, a meddy raises isopycnals above. As a consequence of potential vorticity conservation, negative relative vorticity is generated in the upper layer. During the initial period of meddy acceleration after meddy formation or after a stagnation stage, a cyclonic signal is also generated at the sea-surface, but mostly the anticyclonic surface signal follows the meddy. Based on geostrophy and potential vorticity balance, we present theoretical estimates of the intensity of the surface signature. It appears to be proportional to the meddy core radius and to the Coriolis parameter, and inversely proportional to the core depth and buoyancy frequency. This indicates that surface signature of a meddy may be strongly reduced by the upper ocean stratification. Using climatic distribution of the stratification intensity, we claim that the southernmost limit for detection in altimetry of small meddies (with radii on the order of 10-15 km) should lie in the subtropics (35-45° N), while large meddies (with radii of 25-30 km) could be detected as far south as the northern tropics (25-35° N). Those results agree with observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid-latitude spring blooms of phytoplankton show considerable year-to-year variability in timing, spatial extent and intensity. It is still unclear to what degree the bloom variability is connected to the magnitude of the vertical flux of organic matter. A coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model is used to relate interannual variability in phytoplankton spring-bloom dynamics to variability in the vertical export of organic matter in the NW Mediterranean Sea. Simulation results from 2001 to 2010, validated against remote sensing chlorophyll, show marked interannual variability in both timing and shape of the bloom. Model results show a tendency for the bloom to start later after cold and windy winters. However, the onset of the bloom occurs often when the mixed layer is still several hundred meters deep while the heat flux is already approaching zero. Frequency and intensity of wind episodes control both timing and development of the bloom and the consequent export flux of organic matter. The wintertime flux is greater than zero and shows relatively low interannual variability. The magnitude of this variability is mainly determined in March when the frequency of windy days correlates positively with the export flux. Frequent wind-driven mixing episodes act to increase the export flux and, at the same time, to interrupt the bloom. Our analysis shows that years with discontinuous, low-chlorophyll blooms are likely to have higher export flux than years with undisturbed intense blooms. The area of the study shows strong analogy with the part of the North Atlantic within the same latitude range. Hence, our results may be applicable to quantitatively more important areas of the world oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drifter observations and satellite-derived sea surface height data are used to quantitatively study the surface geostrophic circulation of the entire Mediterranean Sea for the period spanning 1992-2010. After removal of the wind-driven components from the drifter velocities and low-pass filtering in bins of 1° × 1° × 1 week, maps of surface geostrophic circulation (mean flow and kinetic energy levels) are produced using the drifter and/or satellite data. The mean currents and kinetic energy levels derived from the drifter data appear stronger/higher with respect to those obtained from satellite altimeter data. The maps of mean circulation estimated from the drifter data and from a combination of drifter and altimeter data are, however, qualitatively similar. In the western basin they show the main pathways of the surface waters flowing eastward from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Sicily Channel and the current transporting waters back westward along the Italian, French, and Spanish coasts. Intermittent and long-lived subbasin-scale eddies and gyres abound in the Tyrrhenian and Algerian Seas. In the eastern basin, the surface waters are transported eastward by several currents but recirculate in numerous eddies and gyres before reaching the northward coastal current off Israel, Lebanon, and Syria and veering westward off Turkey. In the Ionian Sea, the mean geostrophic velocity maps were also produced separately for the two extended seasons and for multiyear periods. Significant variations are confirmed, with seasonal reversals of the currents in the south and changes of the circulation from anticyclonic (prior to 1 July 2007) to cyclonic and back to anticyclonic after 31 December 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that the formation of the well-defined, zonally oriented Azores Current may be the result of water mass transformation associated with the Mediterranean outflow in the Gulf of Cadiz. As the denser Mediterranean water descends down the continental slope, it entrains overlying North Atlantic Central Water. It is believed that the Azores Current then forms as part of the horizontal recirculating gyre generated through the β-plume mechanism. In this study, the authors further explore this hypothesis by performing a series of numerical experiments. These experiments are based on a high-resolution general circulation model that includes the Mediterranean Sea and that realistically simulates the water mass exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar and the transport and variability of the Azores Current. The authors show that the divergence of the relative vorticity flux and the planetary vorticity flux, associated with planetary waves, are the main factors determining the variability of the Azores Current. It is shown experimentally that the closure of the Strait of Gibraltar leads to a complete disappearance of the Azores Current. On the other hand, with the open Strait of Gibraltar, the Azores Current persists even when the wind forcing over the region is turned off. The atmospheric forcing is thus not responsible for the formation of the Azores Current, but it affects the variability of the current with a minor effect on its magnitude. Numerical experiments suggest that the strength and the variability of the Azores Current depend on the magnitude of the water mass exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar but not on its seasonal variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MFS (Mediterranean Forecasting System) project and its follower MFSTEP (Mediterranean ocean Forecasting System -- Towards Environmental Prediction) are being covering the Mediterranean Sea with operational Ocean General Circulation Models (OGCMs) at horizontal resolution varying from about 12km till 2005 to 6.5 km in 2006 (reaching 3km with some regional models and 1.5 km for few shelf models). Heat, water and momentum fluxes through the air-sea interface are derived from the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) output at 0.5° horizontal resolution. Such horizontal resolutions could be not able to provide the needed forecast accuracy in some cases (localized emergencies at sea, e.g. oil spill; need for high resolution current forecasts, e.g. offshore works). A solution to this problem is represented by relocatable models able to be rapidly deployed and to produce forecasts starting from the MFS products. The Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS) has been chosen as base of the relocatable model and it has been interfaced with the MFSTEP OGCM and one regional model. The relocatable model has demonstrated capability to produce forecasts within 2-3 days in many cases, and more rapid implementation may be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method for the remote retrieval of the sea surface currents in the Mediterranean Sea. Combining the altimeter-derived currents with sea-surface temperature information, we created daily, gap-free high resolution maps of sea surface currents for the period 2012–2016. The quality of the new multi-sensor currents has been assessed through comparisons to other surface-currents estimates, as the ones obtained from drifting buoys trajectories (at the basin scale), or HF-Radar platforms and ocean numerical model outputs in the Malta–Sicily Channel. The study yielded that our synergetic approach can improve the present-day derivation of the surface currents in the Mediterranean area up to 30% locally, with better performances for the the meridional component of the motion and in the western section of the basin. The proposed reconstruction method also showed satisfying performances in the retrieval of the ageostrophic circulation in the Sicily Channel. In this area, assuming the High Frequency Radar-derived currents as reference, the merged multi-sensor currents exhibited improvements with respect to the altimeter estimates and numerical model outputs, mainly due to their enhanced spatial and temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclothone braueri (Stomiiformes, Gonostomatidae) is a widely distributed fish inhabiting the mesopelagic zone of marine tropical and temperate waters. Constituting one of the largest biomasses of the ocean, C. braueri is a key element in most of the ecological processes occurring in the twilight layer. We focused on the ecological processes linked to early life stages in relation to marine pelagic environmental drivers (temperature, salinity, food availability and geostrophic currents) considering different regions of the Central Mediterranean Sea. A multivariate morphometric analysis was carried out using six parameters with the aim of discerning different larval morphotypes, while a fragment of 367 bp representing the 12S ribosomal RNA gene was used to perform molecular analyses aimed at determining the intraspecific genetic variability. Analysis highlighted two geographically distinct morphotypes not genetically discernible and related to the different nutritional conditions due to spatial heterogeneities in terms of temperature and food availability. The body depth (BD) emerged as an appropriate morphometric parameter to detect the larval condition in this species. Molecular analysis highlighted a moderate genetic divergence in the fish population, showing the recurrence of two phylogroups not geographically separated., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The dramatic increase in the occurrence of massive mucilage events in the northern Adriatic (NA) since their recent conspicuous reappearance in the late 1980s prompted a study of circulation and horizontal fluxes. Three transects with equidistant stations (10 km) were thus monitored monthly between June 1999 and July 2002. The geostrophic method was used to compute currents across the three transects from the CTD data, and dynamic heights provided a picture of the horizontal surface circulation. Currentmeter data records were used to adjust the reference surface and to validate the results for the southernmost and deeper (up to 70 m) transect (Senigallia-Susak Island). Geostrophic currents allowed estimation of monthly water fluxes across the transect. Different circulation regimes in the NA were observed, which may have affected mucilage events. When mucilage was absent (1999) or reduced (2001) in the western sector, the Western Adriatic Current (WAC, carrying water out of the NA) was found to be active, whilst the WAC was very weak or reversed when massive mucilage events occurred (2000 and 2002). Opposite behaviour has been observed for the Istrian Coastal Counter-Current (ICCC, retaining freshwater water in the NA) which was more intense during or after massive mucilage events and did not appear when mucilage was absent. Both WAC weakening and ICCC strengthening indicate a longer residence time of riverine waters in the NA, which favours mucilage development. Conclusively, WAC and ICCC result as key elements in controlling massive mucilage phenomena in the NA.