450
with the sub-basin circulation. The major results from the studies carried out in the
Balearic sub-basin are described below while references are provided for other similar
studies in different sub-basins of the Western Mediterranean or other oceanic regions. In
the Balearic Sea, all the results obtained from the analysis of data collected during recent
cruises assess the presence of two intense density fronts in the upper layer. The Balearic
front is found over the Balearic Islands' slope in the upper 150 m while the Continental
front is found in the upper 400 m over the continental slope (peninsula) . Both fronts are
associated with energetic baroclinic currents, Figure 1. Although generally following the
slope, these fronts exhibit distortions towards the centre of the basin. At some particular
locations of the Balearic front, narrow mesoscale filaments (F) and cyclonic eddies (El
and E2) form, Figure 2 (Pinot at al., 1994). Similar structures are observed over the
continental slope where coastal plumes shoot offshore and overspread open sea waters (La
Violette et al., 1990).
-0 .4
0.6
1.6
2.6
Figure 1; Geostrophic streamfunction and velocities at 22m depth in the Balearic Sea in June
1991 (maximum velocity is 36 cm/s) (from Pinot et al., 1995a).
with the sub-basin circulation. The major results from the studies carried out in the
Balearic sub-basin are described below while references are provided for other similar
studies in different sub-basins of the Western Mediterranean or other oceanic regions. In
the Balearic Sea, all the results obtained from the analysis of data collected during recent
cruises assess the presence of two intense density fronts in the upper layer. The Balearic
front is found over the Balearic Islands' slope in the upper 150 m while the Continental
front is found in the upper 400 m over the continental slope (peninsula) . Both fronts are
associated with energetic baroclinic currents, Figure 1. Although generally following the
slope, these fronts exhibit distortions towards the centre of the basin. At some particular
locations of the Balearic front, narrow mesoscale filaments (F) and cyclonic eddies (El
and E2) form, Figure 2 (Pinot at al., 1994). Similar structures are observed over the
continental slope where coastal plumes shoot offshore and overspread open sea waters (La
Violette et al., 1990).
-0 .4
0.6
1.6
2.6
Figure 1; Geostrophic streamfunction and velocities at 22m depth in the Balearic Sea in June
1991 (maximum velocity is 36 cm/s) (from Pinot et al., 1995a).