three anticyclonic gyres, and a coastal mode circulation with the AJ flowing close to
the African coast. These different circulation patterns do not only affect the Alboran
Sea itself, but also influence the water exchange through Gibraltar. The two-gyre
circulation system would favour the outflow of deep Mediterranean waters (WMDW
and TDW) whereas the coastal mode circulation would favour the LIW outflow.
Several cyclonic gyres are frequently found in front of the northern coast of the
Alboran Sea. These structures, mainly between Point Europa and Calaburras and in
front of Malaga Bay and Cape Sacratif are responsible for the upwelling of
sub-surface waters.
The different circulation schemes briefly depicted above are subject to time
variability at sub-inertial, seasonal and inter-annual time scales. Lon-term changes
in the temperature and salinity of the water masses that fill the Alboran Sea have also
been observed since, at least, mid-twentieth century, showing warming and salting
of the whole water column.
References
Albérola C, Rousseau S, Millot C et al (1995) Tidal currents in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Oceanol Acta 18(2):273–284
Anati D, Stommel H (1970) The initial phase of deep water formation in the northwest Mediterranean during MEDOC ’69 on the basis of observations made by Atlantis II. January
25-February 12, 1969. Cah Oceanogr 4:343–351
Arabelos DN, Papazachariou DZ, Contadakis ME et al (2011) A new tide model for the Mediterranean Sea based on altimetry and tide gauge assimilation. Ocean Sci 7:429–444. https://doi.
org/10.5194/os-7-429-2011
Auffret GA, Pastouret L, Chamley H et al (1974) Influence of the prevailing current regime on
sedimentation in the Alboran Sea. Deep-Sea 21(10):839–849. https://doi.org/10.1016/00117471(74)90003-5
Baldacci A, Corsini G, Grasso R et al (2001) A study of the Alboran sea mesoscale system by means
of empirical orthogonal function decomposition of satellite data. J Mar Syst 29(1–4):293–311.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(01)00021-5
Bethoux JP, Gentili B, Raunet J et al (1990) Warming trend in the Western Mediterranean deep
water. Nature 347:660–662. https://doi.org/10.1038/347660a0
Beuvier J, Sevault F, Herrmann M et al (2010) Modeling the Mediterranean Sea inter-annual
variability during 1961-2000: focus on the Eastern Mediterranean transient. J Geophys Res
115:C08017. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JC005950
Bormans M, Garrett C (1989) A simple criterion for gyre formation by the surface outflow from a
Strait, with application to the Alboran Sea. J Geophys Res 94:12637–12644. https://doi.org/10.
1029/JC094iC09p12637
Boukthir M, Barnier B (2000) Seasonal and inter-annual variations in the surface freshwater flux in
the Mediterranean Sea from the ECMWF re-analysis Project. J Mar Syst 24:343–354. https://
doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(99)00094-9
Bray NA, Ochoa J, Kinder TH (1995) The role of the interface in exchange through the Strait of
Gibraltar. J Geophys Res 100(C6):10755–10776
Bryden HL, Stommel HM (1982) Origin of the Mediterranean outflow. J Mar Res 40:55–71
Bunker AF, Charnock H, Goldsmith RA (1982) A note on the heat balance of the Mediterranean
and Red Seas. J Mar Res 40(Suppl):73–84
4 The Oceanographic and Climatic Context
105
the African coast. These different circulation patterns do not only affect the Alboran
Sea itself, but also influence the water exchange through Gibraltar. The two-gyre
circulation system would favour the outflow of deep Mediterranean waters (WMDW
and TDW) whereas the coastal mode circulation would favour the LIW outflow.
Several cyclonic gyres are frequently found in front of the northern coast of the
Alboran Sea. These structures, mainly between Point Europa and Calaburras and in
front of Malaga Bay and Cape Sacratif are responsible for the upwelling of
sub-surface waters.
The different circulation schemes briefly depicted above are subject to time
variability at sub-inertial, seasonal and inter-annual time scales. Lon-term changes
in the temperature and salinity of the water masses that fill the Alboran Sea have also
been observed since, at least, mid-twentieth century, showing warming and salting
of the whole water column.
References
Albérola C, Rousseau S, Millot C et al (1995) Tidal currents in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Oceanol Acta 18(2):273–284
Anati D, Stommel H (1970) The initial phase of deep water formation in the northwest Mediterranean during MEDOC ’69 on the basis of observations made by Atlantis II. January
25-February 12, 1969. Cah Oceanogr 4:343–351
Arabelos DN, Papazachariou DZ, Contadakis ME et al (2011) A new tide model for the Mediterranean Sea based on altimetry and tide gauge assimilation. Ocean Sci 7:429–444. https://doi.
org/10.5194/os-7-429-2011
Auffret GA, Pastouret L, Chamley H et al (1974) Influence of the prevailing current regime on
sedimentation in the Alboran Sea. Deep-Sea 21(10):839–849. https://doi.org/10.1016/00117471(74)90003-5
Baldacci A, Corsini G, Grasso R et al (2001) A study of the Alboran sea mesoscale system by means
of empirical orthogonal function decomposition of satellite data. J Mar Syst 29(1–4):293–311.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(01)00021-5
Bethoux JP, Gentili B, Raunet J et al (1990) Warming trend in the Western Mediterranean deep
water. Nature 347:660–662. https://doi.org/10.1038/347660a0
Beuvier J, Sevault F, Herrmann M et al (2010) Modeling the Mediterranean Sea inter-annual
variability during 1961-2000: focus on the Eastern Mediterranean transient. J Geophys Res
115:C08017. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JC005950
Bormans M, Garrett C (1989) A simple criterion for gyre formation by the surface outflow from a
Strait, with application to the Alboran Sea. J Geophys Res 94:12637–12644. https://doi.org/10.
1029/JC094iC09p12637
Boukthir M, Barnier B (2000) Seasonal and inter-annual variations in the surface freshwater flux in
the Mediterranean Sea from the ECMWF re-analysis Project. J Mar Syst 24:343–354. https://
doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(99)00094-9
Bray NA, Ochoa J, Kinder TH (1995) The role of the interface in exchange through the Strait of
Gibraltar. J Geophys Res 100(C6):10755–10776
Bryden HL, Stommel HM (1982) Origin of the Mediterranean outflow. J Mar Res 40:55–71
Bunker AF, Charnock H, Goldsmith RA (1982) A note on the heat balance of the Mediterranean
and Red Seas. J Mar Res 40(Suppl):73–84
4 The Oceanographic and Climatic Context
105