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We present here a unique oceanographic and meteorological data set 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 multiplatform 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 600–2300 m layer. For the first time, the overlapping of the three “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.

International audienceThe winter of 2012 experienced peculiar atmospheric conditions that triggered a massive formation of dense water on the continental shelf and in the deep basin of the Gulf of Lions. Multiplatforms observations enabled a synoptic view of dense water formation and spreading at basin scale. Five months after its formation, the dense water of coastal origin created a distinct bottom layer up to a few hundreds of meters thick over the central part of the NW Mediterranean basin, which was overlaid by a layer of newly formed deep water produced by open-sea convection. These new observations highlight the role of intense episodes of both dense shelf water cascading and open-sea convection to the progressive modification of the NW Mediterranean deep waters

The mineralogy and grain-size distribution of sediments from Tecer Lake in central Anatolia provides a 6000 year record of mid-to late-Holocene climate trends and events. Correspondences between key measured parameters allow a reconstruction of variations in lake level, evaporation intensity (summer droughts) and humidity (triggering erosion in winter and spring). They also indicate, occasionally, seasonal contrasts (e.g. phases with high winter rainfall). The Tecer sequence is divided into two main periods: (a) the mid-Holocene transition (from sixth to third millennia BP) characterised by the alternation of multicentenial wet and dry phases, and (b) shorter alternations during the last two millennia. During the mid-Holocene transition, intense droughts occur at the end of the sixth, fifth and fourth millennia BP. The characteristics of some climatic phases at Tecer seem specific to the location of the sequence which, when compared with other sites in the eastern Mediterranean, may record variations in the extent of different climatic systems (NE Atlantic, polar, east Mediterranean, Indian monsoon).

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The Gulf of Lions in the northwestern Mediterranean is one of the few sites around the world ocean exhibiting deep open‐ocean convection. Based on 6 year long (2009–2015) time series from a mooring in the convection region, shipborne measurements from repeated cruises, from 2012 to 2015, and glider measurements, we report evidence of bottom thick nepheloid layer formation, which is coincident with deep sediment resuspension induced by bottom‐reaching convection events. This bottom nepheloid layer, which presents a maximum thickness of more than 2000 m in the center of the convection region, probably results from the action of cyclonic eddies that are formed during the convection period and can persist within their core while they travel through the basin. The residence time of this bottom nepheloid layer appears to be less than a year. In situ measurements of suspended particle size further indicate that the bottom nepheloid layer is primarily composed of aggregates between 100 and 1000 µm in diameter, probably constituted of fine silts. Bottom‐reaching open ocean convection, as well as deep dense shelf water cascading that occurred concurrently some years, lead to recurring deep sediments resuspension episodes. They are key mechanisms that control the concentration and characteristics of the suspended particulate matter in the basin, and in turn affect the bathypelagic biological activity.

Le volcanisme calco-alcahn d'Anatohe centrale est à l'origine de changements rapides et conséquents des environnements quaternaires. Les deux grands complexes rhyohtiques du Gollu Dag et d'Acigol intègrent des caldeiras, de nombreuses pyroclastites et des extrusions laviques s'intercalant avec des formations détritiques variées. Le premier a fonctionné du Pleistocene inférieur jusqu'au Pleistocene moyen. Le second s'étend de la fin du Pleistocene moyen au Pleistocene supérieur.Les données présentées permettent de suivre l'évolution rapide de ces complexes, de définir la caldeira du Gollu Dag et de redéfi ni r celle d'Acigol. Chacun de ces complexes à fonctionné en trois phases, pré-, syn-et post-caldeira. Ces phases sont responsables de l'éruption de volumes très différents de magma et de modifications d'ampleur variable des environnements. Les phases syn-caldeira sont responsables des changements les plus importants et les plus rapides. Elles se traduisent par la mise en place de grands volumes de pyroclastites et une modification fondamentale des reliefs et du réseau hydrographique préexistant. Les phases post-caldeira induisent des changements plus modestes, marqués par 1' extrusion répétée de dômes dont nous décrivons un modèle de mise en place original associant phréatomagmatisme, intrusion de dykes annulaires d'obsidienne, activité peléenne, et extrusion rhyohtique. Ces dykes d'obsidienne sont à l'origine d'une importante fréquentation de la région par les sociétés humaines au cours du Paléolithique et du Néolithique. La moindre ampleur des volumes émis et l'étalement des éruptions dans le temps permet l' interstratification des pyroclastites avec des formations alluviales et colluviales pleistocenes. Cette évolution définit des séquences variées où s'intercalent des téphra-repères et des industries paléolithiques. Leur étude permet d'analyser les différents facteurs contrôlant leur mise en place et de les resituer dans un cadre téphrostratigraphique largement inédit.