The surface circulation of the Balearic Sea

Abstract

Until recently, the surface circulation of the Balearic Sea has been viewed as largely cyclonic with a fairly quiescent central dome. However, recent studies involving ship data, tracked drifters, current meter moorings, and satellite imagery indicate that this sea has strong mesoscale variability and a more complex general circulation. These studies, together with an examination of registered satellite imagery collected during the Western Mediterranean Circulation Experiment (WMCE), indicate that the surface circulation is strong year‐round, and characterized by two permanent density fronts located on the continental shelf slope (the Catalan Front) and the Balearic Islands shelf slope (the Balearic Front). The Catalan Front is the more active of the two fronts. In the northern area, a plume of cold water is frequently observed moving southward along the continental slope region, shedding dipole eddies along the leading edge of the plume. In addition, the Catalan Front continuously spawns energetic filaments that appear to be associated with the plume of cool water. The likely mechanism of formation of these filaments is the deflection of the cold water by the regional submarine canyons.

Regional genetic differentiation among populations of Cladocora caespitosa in the Western Mediterranean

“…During the spring and summer, the formation of a gyre partially deflects the Northern current toward the Balearic Sea, thus lowering water flow through the Ibiza Channel. During the autumn-winter season, this gyre is less evident owing to the weaker character of the Balearic Front and the increase in intensity of the Northern Current (La Violette et al 1990;Font et al 1995). The relative seasonal intensities of the Northern Current and the mentioned gyre play an important role in gene flow in this region.…”

Physical forcing and physical/biochemical variability of the Mediterranean Sea: a review of unresolved issues and directions for future research

“…In the Balearic Basin it splits into two 312 P. Malanotte-Rizzoli et al: Physical forcing and physical/biochemical variability of the Mediterranean Sea branches, one recirculating into the Balearic Current (e.g., Ruiz et al, 2009a) and the other continuing south through the Ibiza Channel (Pinot et al, 2002). The Balearic Basin is also characterized by shelf-slope exchange due to mesoscale eddies (Pinot et al, 2002;Bouffard et al, 2010), filaments, and shelf-slope flow modifications (Wang et al, 1988;La Violette et al, 1990). The bathymetry plays a key role in controlling the transport between the northern and southern regions (Astraldi et al, 1999) and may enhance sub-mesoscale activity (Bouffard et al, 2012).…”

Modelling the Pelagic Ecosystem Dynamics: The NW Mediterranean

“…The overall averages of model surface salinity and temperature are shown with the geostrophic currents superposed in Figure 7. The model reproduces the wavelike shape of the salinity front and the geostrophic current associated on the northern side of Mallorca, as described by La Violette et al (1990). The NC is also associated to a permanent horizontal density gradient called the Catalan front.…”