GCM studies of intermediate and deep waters in the Mediterranean

Abstract

Results from GCM simulations of the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation are presented under repeating year wind and surface buoyancy forcings and the reproduction of important physical processes is discussed. It is shown that baroclinic eddies are critical to the effective dispersal of Levantine intermediate water (LIW) throughout the eastern Mediterranean basin. These develop rapidly even in a 1/4 degree model which does not resolve the deformation radius, provided horizontal friction is small enough. It is shown that LIW enters the Adriatic basin and pre-conditions deep water formation which would not otherwise occur due to low surface salinity in winter. The dispersal of Adriatic deep waters is modelled, and it is shown that the introduction of the Gent and McWilliams advective scheme greatly improves the distribution of deep waters in the eastern basin by permitting the formation of dense overflow waters from the Otranto straits. This is achieved with very small parametrised advection that still permits the formation of baroclinic eddies unlike most applications which use the scheme to replace eddies. Results from a 100-year climate simulation are then presented in which the thermohaline circulation has reached equilibrium conditions. Dense water formation in both eastern and western basin still occur after 100 years. While the eastern basin water masses are reasonably realistic, the western basin is a little too cold and fresh, suggesting that insufficient LIW is reaching the deep water formation site in the northwest basin. Further work is needed in this area.