42.
42.
41.
41.
41.
41.
453
*
•
Figure 3b: Distribution of fish larvae over the canyon of Palamas in spring 1992
(from Alvarez et a!', 1995).
The structures and processes observed in the Balearic Sea are similar to the observations made in the coastal zone off California during CO DE and CTZ (Coastal Transition
Zone) experiments where cross-shore filaments of coastal waters were found recurrently
over the slope. Interdisciplinary studies have also shown that these filaments carry coastal
species offshore and represent a strong forcing on the local biomass. A numerical study
by Haidvogel et al. (1991) showed that topography irregularities playa major role in
inducing filaments' formation. On the western Iberian slope, similar structures are also
found (Haynes et aI. , 1993).
1.2 Role of the mesoscale in the Western Mediterranean general circulation
Mesoscale eddies may have an important influence on the large scale circulation.
Through dynamic adjustments, eddies tend to be correlated with bottom topography,
42.
41.
41.
41.
41.
453
*
•
Figure 3b: Distribution of fish larvae over the canyon of Palamas in spring 1992
(from Alvarez et a!', 1995).
The structures and processes observed in the Balearic Sea are similar to the observations made in the coastal zone off California during CO DE and CTZ (Coastal Transition
Zone) experiments where cross-shore filaments of coastal waters were found recurrently
over the slope. Interdisciplinary studies have also shown that these filaments carry coastal
species offshore and represent a strong forcing on the local biomass. A numerical study
by Haidvogel et al. (1991) showed that topography irregularities playa major role in
inducing filaments' formation. On the western Iberian slope, similar structures are also
found (Haynes et aI. , 1993).
1.2 Role of the mesoscale in the Western Mediterranean general circulation
Mesoscale eddies may have an important influence on the large scale circulation.
Through dynamic adjustments, eddies tend to be correlated with bottom topography,