Abstract. In this paper we document dense water formation throughout the Adriatic shelf and coastal area in January/February 2012, resulting in record-breaking densities observed during and after the event. The unprecedented dense water generation was preconditioned by a dry and warm year which resulted in a significant reduction of coastal freshwaters, superimposed on a long-term basin-wide salinity increase. The final event that triggered the dense water formation was an extended period of cold weather with strong and severe winds. Record-breaking potential density anomalies (above 30 kg m −3 ) were measured at several formation sites. Accumulated surface net heat and water losses in some coastal regions exceeded 1.5 GJ m −2 and 250 kg m −2 over 21 days, respectively. Excessiveness, importance of shelf-type dense water formation and effects on the thermohaline circulation and deep aquatic systems are discussed.

We document dense water formation (DWF) throughout the Adriatic shelf and coastal area in January/February 2012, resulting in record-breaking densities observed during and after the event. The unprecedented dense water generation was preconditioned by a dry and warm year which resulted in a significant reduction of coastal freshwaters, superimposed on a long-term basin-wide salinity increase. The final event that triggered the DWF was an extended period of cold weather with strong and severe winds. Record-breaking potential density anomalies (above 30 kg m^−3) were measured at several DWF sites. Accumulated surface net heat and water losses in some coastal regions exceeded 1.5 GJ m^−2 and 250 kg m^−2 over 21 days, respectively. Excessiveness, importance of shelf-type DWF, effects on the thermohaline circulation and deep aquatic systems, and connection with climate change are discussed

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[1] Temperature and salinity data, collected by conductivity-temperature-depth cruises over the Gulf of Trieste during 1991-2003, were analyzed using different methods. In the first analysis, the evolution within a year of monthly temperatures and salinities at the sea surface and at 10 m depth was examined. Temperature at the surface varies with an annual amplitude of 8.1 ± 0.4°C around 16.5°C, while at a depth of 10 m it varies with an amplitude of 7.0 ± 0.3°C around 15.5°C, the variation being delayed with respect to that at the surface for about 0.4 months. In the second analysis, the interannual variations of seasonal temperatures and salinities were examined.

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