Abstract
ADCP, thermosalinograph, and meteorological data were collected during a short cruise (SARHYGOL 3; June 13–15, 2000) throughout the Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean Sea. The 3-D hydrodynamical model Symphonie reproduces well the circulation features observed in situ. The Northern Current (NC)—geostrophic current bordering the gulf along its continental slope—is well modeled with slight differences in its position. When the modeled stratification of the gulf is shallower than the measured stratification, the modeled NC is further offshore than the real NC (and reciprocally). The model allows the determination of the life-time and generating processes of the intrusions of the NC on the shelf. During the cruise, two different types of intrusions of the NC are found: (1) an intrusion at the eastern side of the gulf, that lasted 5 days and was due to a combination of the water column stratification and wind-forcing effects at the start of the continental shelf; (2) an intrusion at the center of the gulf, that lasted less than 12 h and was generated by the proximity of a positive and a negative wind stress curls. The coupled in situ data/model analysis also provides a better understanding on inertial oscillations. A strong inertial oscillation, with maximum amplitude of 60 cm/s, is clearly observed at the western side of the gulf due to the absence of the NC there. The model also exhibits this oscillation, and provides its temporal variations. The analysis, closely coupling in situ measurements and model results, provides information that would not have been obtained using either data separately.
Highlights
The Gulf of Lions (GoL) is located in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea
The main objectives of the paper are to test whether the hydrodynamic features observed quasi-synoptically throughout the whole GoL can be reproduced by the Symphonie model, and, if yes, to use the model to better understand the generating processes of the observed currents
The shelf circulation of the Gulf of Lions is complex due to the combined effects of various forcings. These characteristics can be met in many other coastal zones; the study of this zone is of general interest for coastal studies
Summary
The Gulf of Lions (GoL) is located in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The main hydrodynamic features of this continental shelf have been previously described (Millot, 1999). The winds generate classical oceanographic features, such as upwellings along straight coasts (Millot, 1982), and downwellings The winds can both become very strong or die quite suddenly; and generate transitional circulation features, such as inertial oscillations (Millot and Crepon, 1981; Petrenko, 2003). These inertial oscillations can occur all year round, but they seem to be favored in stratified conditions. These transitional motions are classically filtered out of time series data (e.g., by applying a 40 h Lanczos filter) but they are more difficult to isolate in data sets acquired aboard a moving research vessel (RV)
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