Observations of open-ocean deep convection in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea: Seasonal and interannual variability of mixing and deep water masses for the 2007–2013 period

Loic Houpert, X. Durrieu De Madron, Pierre Testor, A. Bosse, Fabrizio D'ortenzio, M. N. Bouin, D. Dausse, H. Le Goff, Stephane Kunesch, M. Labaste, L. Coppola, L MORTIER, P Raimbault

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Abstract

We present here a unique oceanographic and meteorological dataset focus on the deep convection processes. Our results are essentially based on in situ data (mooring, research vessel, glider, and profiling float) collected from a multi-platform and integrated monitoring system (MOOSE: Mediterranean Ocean Observing System on Environment), which monitored continuously the northwestern Mediterranean Sea since 2007, and in particular high-frequency potential temperature, salinity and current measurements from the mooring LION located within the convection region.

From 2009 to 2013, the mixed layer depth reaches the seabed, at a depth of 2330m, in February. Then, the violent vertical mixing of the whole water column lasts between 9 and 12 days setting up the characteristics of the newly-formed deep water. Each deep convection winter formed a new warmer and saltier '“vintage” of deep water. These sudden inputs of salt and heat in the deep ocean are responsible for trends in salinity (3.3+/-0.2 *10−3/yr) and potential temperature (3.2+/-0.5 *10−3°C/yr) observed from 2009 to 2013 for the 600-2300m layer.

For the first time, the overlapping of the 3 “phases” of deep convection can be observed with secondary vertical mixing events (2-4 days) after the beginning of the restratification phase, and the restratification/spreading phase still active at the beginning of the following deep convection event.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research-Oceans
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2016

Keywords

  • Physical Oceanography
  • Ocean Observations
  • Dense Water Formation
  • Open Ocean Deep Convection
  • Mixed Layer
  • Gulf of Lions
  • Deep water
  • Mediterranean Sea

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