Movement and geographical distribution of anticyclonic eddies in the eastern Levantine basin

Abstract

Deep anticyclonic eddies in the eastern Mediterranean Basin consist of warm salty (>39.05%) water. They are characterized by a downward decline of 200 m or more of 14–16°C isotherms over a horizontal distance of 50 km. These eddies are strongly nonlinear; their radius is about 40 km and the corresponding geostrophic currents are about 20 cm s −1 at 350 m depth. Life-time of the eddies could be several years, and up to three or four could form annually. It is suggested that the eddies probably form along the coasts of Asia Minor and move first southwards and then eastwards.