Page 15 - angeo-21-299-2003

R. Sorgente et al.: Seasonal variability in the Central Mediterranean Sea circulation 313
(a) A)

37.5 37.7 38.637.5
37.7 37.5 37.7
−100
−200 38.1 37.9 37.9
−300 38.5 38.3 38.1

38.6 38.3
Depth (m.)
38.78 38.76 38.72−40038.74 38.5
−500 38.6
38.7 38.5

−600 35.5 36 36.5 37 37.5 38 38.5 39 39.5
North Latitude
−100
−200 (b) B)
−300
−400 37.6 37.4 37.6 37.8
37.5 37.6 37.5 37.7

37.7 38 37.8 37.9
37.9
38.1 38.2 38.5
38.7
38.3 38.2 38.1
38.5
Depth (m.) 38.3
38.7

38.74

38.5

38.78

−500 38.8

38.7
38.72

−600
35.5 36 36.5 37 37.5 38 38.5 39 39.5
North Latitude

Fig. 15. The simulated 10-day averaged vertical section of salinity along longitude 13◦ E in (a) February and (b) August. The contour
interval is 0.1 psu in the range 37.4 to 38.7 psu, and 0.02 psu in the range from 38.7 to 38.8 psu.

lowest value of about 2.5 Sv between July/August, while it highly unstable, and results in the generation of rather ener-
increases again in the winter months, with a maximum of getic eddies. These have length scales of about 50–100 km
over 2.0 Sv from November to May (not shown). Prior to and periods of a few months. They are believed to play an
the Strait of Sicily, the lateral variation in density between important role in the transfer of MAW into the Tyrrhenian
the MAW and the surrounding waters, together with strong Sea. Krivosheya (1983), Astraldi and Gasparini (1994) de-
differences in the velocity shear, renders the MAW stream scribe a permanent cyclonic gyre rotating over the southeast-