A field study of the behaviour of an anticyclonic eddy on the Catalan continental shelf (NW Mediterranean)

Rubio, Anna; Arnau, Pedro; Espino, Manuel; Flexas, María del Mar; Jordà, Gabriel; Salat, Jordi; Puigdefàbregas, Joan; Arcilla, A. S.

doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2004.07.012

Cited by 70 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Meanders of about 30-40 km propagating at phase speeds of 5-15 km/day that grow as filaments and develop into isolated eddies have been reported (Flexas et al, 2002;Rubio et al, 2005). Similar southwestward-propagating frontal structures are observed in the present simulation.…”

Section: Frontal Structures and Coastal Trapped Wavessupporting

confidence: 88%

Analysis of the circulation and shelf-slope exchanges in the continental margin of the northwestern Mediterranean

et al. 2006

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Abstract. In this paper, we present the results from a high horizontal resolution numerical simulation of the northwestern Mediterranean using a z-level, non-hydrostatic, primitive equation ocean model (DieCAST). The high resolution allows an accurate representation of the submarine canyons that presides in the region. The model is one-way coupled to a large scale model of the Mediterranean Sea through open boundaries and uses the atmospheric forcing fields provided in terms of HIRLAM outputs by the Spanish National Institute of Meteorology. Results show that the model can successfully reproduce the complex general circulation characteristics of the area, including the modifications induced by canyons in their vicinity and other phenomena observed such as instabilities and coastal trapped waves. The sea surface temperature is similar to satellite observations except that simulated temperatures are slightly warmer near the coast than observations and colder near the open boundaries. An important topic of this work is the computation of the shelfslope exchanges, which are able to renew shelf waters in a few months.

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Section: Frontal Structures and Coastal Trapped Wavessupporting

confidence: 88%

Analysis of the circulation and shelf-slope exchanges in the continental margin of the northwestern Mediterranean

et al. 2006

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“…The observed variability in the northward extension of larvae among cruises thus depends on the position of the front and its associated eddy. This variability could be related to the southwards advection of anticyclonic eddies in the northern sector off the Catalan coast (Arnau et al 2004, Rubio et al 2005.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other features such as the presence of anticyclonic eddies over the continental shelf and slope have also been described as associated with this mesoscale activity (Rojas et al 1995, Flexas et al 2002. Rubio et al (2005) suggested that these eddies were generated by the direct effect of wind curl, either locally or advected by the current from the Gulf of Lions, where winds are stronger and more frequent. These winds are also responsible for a marked thermal front perpendicular to the coast, between 41 and 42°N that has been frequently depicted by satellite images (López-García et al 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Spawning environmental conditions of Sardinella aurita at the northern limit of its distribution range, the western Mediterranean

Sabatés

Salat²,

Raya³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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In the last 20 yr, an increasing abundance and northward expansion of Sardinella aurita has been reported in the western Mediterranean. The present study characterizes the spawning habitat of S. aurita at the northern limit of their geographic distribution and determines the hydrodynamic conditions that could control their northward expansion in the western Mediterranean. Data along the Catalan shelf and slope were obtained in 4 oceanographic cruises conducted in the summers of 2003 and 2004. A clear preference for spawning in coastal areas shallower than 100 m was determined, with larvae showing a wider distribution extending offshore up to the position of the 150 m isobath. The greatest abundance of eggs and larvae was found in the southern half of the area on the wide shelf near the mouth of the Ebro River. This zone was characterized by high values of surface chlorophyll a in association with relatively low salinity waters from the Ebro River. In the northern part of the area, a thermal front across the shelf, with higher sea surface temperatures on its southern side, marked the northern limit of egg and larvae distribution. The northern side of this front was under the direct influence of the shelf -slope current, advecting slope waters from the north, while its southern side was dominated by coastal water. Larvae carried by coastal waters tended to concentrate near the convergence associated with the front. Thus, the thermal front retains and concentrates S. aurita larvae, and could represent one of the limiting factors for the expansion of the species towards the north.

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“…Through the analysis of satellite thermal images, mesoscale anticyclonic eddies have been observed to recurrently drift along the northwestern Mediterranean coasts and the Algerian basin [14][15][16]. In one case, a group of anticyclonic structures were tracked from the Gulf of Lions to the Catalan shelf by analysis of SST images, and at the same time one of the eddy-like features was also intensely surveyed by means of in situ CTD casts and repeated fast surveys with oscillating CTD and ADCP measurements.…”

Section: Remote Sensing Monitoring Of Ocean Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote sensing in coastal water monitoring: Applications in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (IUPAC Technical Report)

Dassenakis

Paraskevopoulou

Cartalis

et al. 2011

Pure and Applied Chemistry

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Remote sensing/satellite observation of land and oceans is a field of research that was developed during the second half of the 20 th century, and its importance is widely recognised because of the amount of information it can provide to the scientific community and the general public. The outcomes of remote sensing/satellite observation can be used to address and study significant aspects of environmental concern, such as habitat destruction, environmental degradation, forest fires, oil spills, and climate change. There is continuous improvement of the methods and means of remote sensing observations in order to achieve more accurate and useful information. The main advantage is the possibility of observing large areas, and the main disadvantage is that it can observe only the water and land surface. The present paper is an effort to review the technologies used in remote sensing and the general applications in a comprehensive manner addressed to scientists who do not specialize in this area of research. Furthermore, this paper reviews case studies/applications in the Mediterranean Sea, an area affected by various polluting activities (industrial cities, agriculture, shipping, etc.) that should be continuously monitored so that the coastal countries are able to successfully manage this sensitive environment.

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A field study of the behaviour of an anticyclonic eddy on the Catalan continental shelf (NW Mediterranean)

Cited by 70 publications

References 14 publications

Analysis of the circulation and shelf-slope exchanges in the continental margin of the northwestern Mediterranean

Analysis of the circulation and shelf-slope exchanges in the continental margin of the northwestern Mediterranean

Spawning environmental conditions of Sardinella aurita at the northern limit of its distribution range, the western Mediterranean

Remote sensing in coastal water monitoring: Applications in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (IUPAC Technical Report)

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