differentiated name and is usually referred to in the literature as the Almeria-Oran
Front (Troupin et al. 2018; Olita et al. 2017; Tintoré et al. 1988).
The area between Point Europa and Point Calaburras (see Fig. 4.3) and the areas
in front of Malaga Bay and between Cape Sacratif and Cape Gata, in the northern
coast of the Alboran Sea, are frequently occupied by cyclonic circulation cells. These
structures produce the divergence of surface waters at the inner part of the gyres and
the upwelling of deep waters. The effect of the Alboran Sea frontal system and the
cyclonic circulation areas is the presence at the sea surface or close to it, of waters
saltier and cooler than the AW which is already flowing through the Strait of
Gibraltar (see Fig. 4.2).
Figures 4.4 and 4.5 show the temperature and salinity horizontal distributions at
5, 50, 100 and 200 m depth. The data used correspond to the cruise FE-92 (MEDAR/
MEDATLAS database). These distributions illustrate the two-gyre circulation mode
and the generation of down and upwelling areas within the Alboran Sea.
Figures 4.4 and 4.5 show the presence of waters with a surface temperature higher
than 22
C and salinity values lower than 36.5 in the areas of the WAG and EAG.
The position of the temperature and salinity frontal system is especially clear in the
50 m depth distribution. It is also clear the salinity increase and the low-temperature
values in the areas between Point Europa and Point Calaburras and in the sector to
the north of the frontal system, mainly in front of Malaga Bay and Cape Sacratif.
These regions have been marked in Fig. 4.5a, b.
The vertical extension of the AW upper layer is also modulated by the different
circulation structures. Figure 4.6a shows a zonal salinity section along 36
N. The
Fig. 4.6 (a) is a zonal salinity vertical section along 36
N. (b) and (c) are north-south salinity
vertical sections along 4
W and 2
W, respectively
4 The Oceanographic and Climatic Context
97
Front (Troupin et al. 2018; Olita et al. 2017; Tintoré et al. 1988).
The area between Point Europa and Point Calaburras (see Fig. 4.3) and the areas
in front of Malaga Bay and between Cape Sacratif and Cape Gata, in the northern
coast of the Alboran Sea, are frequently occupied by cyclonic circulation cells. These
structures produce the divergence of surface waters at the inner part of the gyres and
the upwelling of deep waters. The effect of the Alboran Sea frontal system and the
cyclonic circulation areas is the presence at the sea surface or close to it, of waters
saltier and cooler than the AW which is already flowing through the Strait of
Gibraltar (see Fig. 4.2).
Figures 4.4 and 4.5 show the temperature and salinity horizontal distributions at
5, 50, 100 and 200 m depth. The data used correspond to the cruise FE-92 (MEDAR/
MEDATLAS database). These distributions illustrate the two-gyre circulation mode
and the generation of down and upwelling areas within the Alboran Sea.
Figures 4.4 and 4.5 show the presence of waters with a surface temperature higher
than 22
C and salinity values lower than 36.5 in the areas of the WAG and EAG.
The position of the temperature and salinity frontal system is especially clear in the
50 m depth distribution. It is also clear the salinity increase and the low-temperature
values in the areas between Point Europa and Point Calaburras and in the sector to
the north of the frontal system, mainly in front of Malaga Bay and Cape Sacratif.
These regions have been marked in Fig. 4.5a, b.
The vertical extension of the AW upper layer is also modulated by the different
circulation structures. Figure 4.6a shows a zonal salinity section along 36
N. The
Fig. 4.6 (a) is a zonal salinity vertical section along 36
N. (b) and (c) are north-south salinity
vertical sections along 4
W and 2
W, respectively
4 The Oceanographic and Climatic Context
97