The Mediterranean is becoming saltier
The deep waters of the western Mediterranean Sea have become saltier and warmer for at least the past 40 years at rates of about 0.015 and 0.04 °C per decade. Here we show that two processes contribute to these increases in temperature and salinity. On interannual timescales, deep water formation ev...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-08-01
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Series: | Ocean Science |
Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/10/693/2014/os-10-693-2014.pdf |
Summary: | The deep waters of the western Mediterranean Sea have become saltier
and warmer for at least the past 40 years at rates of about 0.015 and
0.04 °C per decade. Here we show that two processes contribute to
these increases in temperature and salinity. On interannual timescales,
deep water formation events in severe winters transmit increasingly salty
intermediate waters into the deep water. The second process is a steady
downward flux of heat and salt associated with salt finger mixing down
through the halocline–thermocline that connects the Levantine Intermediate
Water with the deep water. We illustrate these two processes with
observations from repeat surveys of the western Mediterranean basin we have
made over the past 10 years. |
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ISSN: | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |