The complex spreading pattern of Mediterranean Water off the Portuguese continental slope

Abstract

Two stacked outflow cores of the Mediterranean Water undercurrent pass through a broad “gateway” between Cape St. Vincent and Gettysburg Bank entering the Iberian Basin. The upper core (depth ∼750 m, σ 1=31.85) shows a strong tendency to follow the contours of the Portuguese continental rise. Yet, the lower core (depth ∼1250 m, σ 1=32.25) primarily meanders west and northwestward forming large blobs of Mediterranean Water. The predominance of isolated Meddy structures embedded in a background field is reflected in a long-term current meter record from the deep Iberian Basin.