Decadal oscillations in the Mediterranean Sea: a result of the overturning circulation variability in the eastern basin?

Climate Research

V. Rupolo¹  G. Pisacane¹  S. Calmanti¹  V. Artale¹ 

关键词: Ionian Sea;    Adriatic Sea;    Thermohaline circulation;    Deep ventilation;    Water mass composition;   

DOI  :  10.3354/cr031257

来源: Inter-Research Science Publishing

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: We studied the decadal variability of Mediterranean overturning circulation, induced by freshwater flux forcing in an eddy-permitting oceanic general circulation model (OGCM), using a statistical approach. Analysis of the modes of variability was carried out by means of the empirical orthogonal functional analysis (EOF) method. We demonstrated that the eastern basin is sensitive to switching from a restoring boundary condition on salinity to a freshwater flux. This study suggests that variability in the eastern basin drives the response of the whole Mediterranean Sea. We put forward the hypothesis that the eastern basin undergoes internal oscillations of bimodal amplitude.

【 授权许可】

Unknown