The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation

<p>The presence of two large-scale cyclonic gyres in the Algerian Basin influences the general and eddy circulation, but their effects on water mass transfer remain poorly characterized. Our study has confirmed the presence of these gyres using the first direct current measurements of the whol...

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Main Authors: K. Mallil, P. Testor, A. Bosse, F. Margirier, L. Houpert, H. Le Goff, L. Mortier, F. Louanchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-07-01
Series:Ocean Science
Online Access:https://os.copernicus.org/articles/18/937/2022/os-18-937-2022.pdf
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author K. Mallil
K. Mallil
P. Testor
A. Bosse
F. Margirier
L. Houpert
H. Le Goff
L. Mortier
F. Louanchi
author_facet K. Mallil
K. Mallil
P. Testor
A. Bosse
F. Margirier
L. Houpert
H. Le Goff
L. Mortier
F. Louanchi
author_sort K. Mallil
collection DOAJ
description <p>The presence of two large-scale cyclonic gyres in the Algerian Basin influences the general and eddy circulation, but their effects on water mass transfer remain poorly characterized. Our study has confirmed the presence of these gyres using the first direct current measurements of the whole water column collected during the SOMBA-GE2014 cruise, specifically designed to investigate these gyres. Using cruise sections and a climatology from 60 years of in situ measurements, we have also shown the effect of these gyres on the distribution at intermediate depth of Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) with warmer (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 0.15 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup>C</span>) and saltier (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 0.02) characteristics in the Algerian Basin than in the Provençal Basin. The Algerian Gyres, combined with the effect of anticyclonic Algerian Eddies, also impact horizontal density gradients with sinking of the isopycnals at the gyres' centers. Temporal cross-correlation of LIW potential temperature referenced to a signal observed southwest of Sardinia reveals a timescale of transit of 4 months to get to the center of the Algerian Basin.</p> <p>The LIW potential temperature and salinity trends, on average in the basin interior, are estimated to be <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.0022 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.0002 <span class="inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6" display="inline" overflow="scroll" dspmath="mathml"><mrow class="unit"><msup><mi/><mo>∘</mo></msup><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mspace width="0.125em" linebreak="nobreak"/><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">yr</mi><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn mathvariant="normal">1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math><span><svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="28c0b3f859693f23c216343abc480004"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="os-18-937-2022-ie00001.svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" src="os-18-937-2022-ie00001.png"/></svg:svg></span></span> and <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.0022 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.0001 <span class="inline-formula">yr<sup>−1</sup></span>, respectively, over the 1968–2017 period and accelerating to <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.048 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.003 <span class="inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M12" display="inline" overflow="scroll" dspmath="mathml"><mrow class="unit"><msup><mi/><mo>∘</mo></msup><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mspace width="0.125em" linebreak="nobreak"/><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">yr</mi><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn mathvariant="normal">1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math><span><svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="ddbfc417e1eddef6096881fe045bbb7c"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="os-18-937-2022-ie00002.svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" src="os-18-937-2022-ie00002.png"/></svg:svg></span></span> and <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.0076 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.0009 <span class="inline-formula">yr<sup>−1</sup></span> over the 2013–2017 period.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-e65662a67d924866a061358be5a84c122022-12-22T01:21:15ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922022-07-011893795210.5194/os-18-937-2022The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observationK. Mallil0K. Mallil1P. Testor2A. Bosse3F. Margirier4L. Houpert5H. Le Goff6L. Mortier7F. Louanchi8Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN, UMR 7159): CNRS/SU/MNHN/IRD, 75005, Paris, FranceEcole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l'Aménagement du Littoral (ENSSMAL), Laboratoire des Ecosystèmes Marins et Littoraux (EcosysMarL), 16320, Alger, AlgeriaLaboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN, UMR 7159): CNRS/SU/MNHN/IRD, 75005, Paris, FranceAix-Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM110, 13288, Marseille, FranceSchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USAOSE Engineering, 78470, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, FranceLaboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN, UMR 7159): CNRS/SU/MNHN/IRD, 75005, Paris, FranceLaboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN, UMR 7159): CNRS/SU/MNHN/IRD, 75005, Paris, FranceEcole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l'Aménagement du Littoral (ENSSMAL), Laboratoire des Ecosystèmes Marins et Littoraux (EcosysMarL), 16320, Alger, Algeria<p>The presence of two large-scale cyclonic gyres in the Algerian Basin influences the general and eddy circulation, but their effects on water mass transfer remain poorly characterized. Our study has confirmed the presence of these gyres using the first direct current measurements of the whole water column collected during the SOMBA-GE2014 cruise, specifically designed to investigate these gyres. Using cruise sections and a climatology from 60 years of in situ measurements, we have also shown the effect of these gyres on the distribution at intermediate depth of Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) with warmer (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 0.15 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup>C</span>) and saltier (<span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 0.02) characteristics in the Algerian Basin than in the Provençal Basin. The Algerian Gyres, combined with the effect of anticyclonic Algerian Eddies, also impact horizontal density gradients with sinking of the isopycnals at the gyres' centers. Temporal cross-correlation of LIW potential temperature referenced to a signal observed southwest of Sardinia reveals a timescale of transit of 4 months to get to the center of the Algerian Basin.</p> <p>The LIW potential temperature and salinity trends, on average in the basin interior, are estimated to be <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.0022 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.0002 <span class="inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6" display="inline" overflow="scroll" dspmath="mathml"><mrow class="unit"><msup><mi/><mo>∘</mo></msup><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mspace width="0.125em" linebreak="nobreak"/><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">yr</mi><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn mathvariant="normal">1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math><span><svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="28c0b3f859693f23c216343abc480004"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="os-18-937-2022-ie00001.svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" src="os-18-937-2022-ie00001.png"/></svg:svg></span></span> and <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.0022 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.0001 <span class="inline-formula">yr<sup>−1</sup></span>, respectively, over the 1968–2017 period and accelerating to <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.048 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.003 <span class="inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M12" display="inline" overflow="scroll" dspmath="mathml"><mrow class="unit"><msup><mi/><mo>∘</mo></msup><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mspace width="0.125em" linebreak="nobreak"/><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">yr</mi><mrow><mo>-</mo><mn mathvariant="normal">1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math><span><svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="ddbfc417e1eddef6096881fe045bbb7c"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="os-18-937-2022-ie00002.svg" width="34pt" height="15pt" src="os-18-937-2022-ie00002.png"/></svg:svg></span></span> and <span class="inline-formula">+</span>0.0076 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.0009 <span class="inline-formula">yr<sup>−1</sup></span> over the 2013–2017 period.</p>https://os.copernicus.org/articles/18/937/2022/os-18-937-2022.pdf
spellingShingle K. Mallil
K. Mallil
P. Testor
A. Bosse
F. Margirier
L. Houpert
H. Le Goff
L. Mortier
F. Louanchi
The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation
Ocean Science
title The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation
title_full The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation
title_fullStr The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation
title_full_unstemmed The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation
title_short The Levantine Intermediate Water in the western Mediterranean and its interactions with the Algerian Gyres: insights from 60 years of observation
title_sort levantine intermediate water in the western mediterranean and its interactions with the algerian gyres insights from 60 years of observation
url https://os.copernicus.org/articles/18/937/2022/os-18-937-2022.pdf
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