451
42.
. .... : ...
Contour ioterva l = O. IOC
38.4+--,--4~~--.-~~~--~~~~~~~~+
-0 .4
Figure 2: Temperature at 125 m depth in the Balearic Sea in June 1995
(from Pinot et al. , 1994)
4 .4
These structures modify the mean along-slope sub-basin circulation and furthermore,
they can involve substantial onshore and offshore transport of properties. They tend to
occur at some specific locations where slope topography is characterised by important
along-shore irregularities. Submarine canyons and other irregularities of the slope have
been found to trigger branching and recirculation of the Continental current at specific
places (Wang et aI., 1988; Tinton~ et al. , 1990). More recently, Alvarez et al. (1995)
used data collected during three repeated cruises in the canyon of Palamos (northeast
spanish coast) and showed the existence of strong intrusions onto the shelf just over the
canyon, Figure 3a. They also found significant modifications of the Continental current's
vertical structure induced by the canyon. Biological data analyses indicated that these