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producing an along-shore average stress. As an example, it was observed that the intermediate layer (200-600 m) in the Balearic Sea is composed of adjacent eddies with high
spatial variability in hydrographic properties. These eddies extend deep into the intermediate layer and interact with bottom topography in the slope regions, generating a
mean along-slope flow. Solving for these eddies in general circulation models would imply
a very high computational cost and is nowadays unrealistic. An alternative approach to
introduce the effect of these eddies in numerical ocean models is to use the tendency of the
oceanic state towards higher entropy. Holloway (1992) suggested a parametrization (the
Neptune effect) of these interactions based on statistical mechanics. We have explored the
relevance of the eddy/topography interaction on the large scale circulation of the Western
Mediterranean incorporating this parametrization in the MOM (Modular Ocean Model)
primitive equation model (Alvarez et al., 1994). Figure 4a and b show the circulation of
Atlantic waters obtained after 20 years of simulation when an almost stationary state is
reached, with and without Neptune effect. The different circulation patterns obtained in
the two simulations suggest that mesoscale features play a key role in modifying the large
scale circulation in this sea.
producing an along-shore average stress. As an example, it was observed that the intermediate layer (200-600 m) in the Balearic Sea is composed of adjacent eddies with high
spatial variability in hydrographic properties. These eddies extend deep into the intermediate layer and interact with bottom topography in the slope regions, generating a
mean along-slope flow. Solving for these eddies in general circulation models would imply
a very high computational cost and is nowadays unrealistic. An alternative approach to
introduce the effect of these eddies in numerical ocean models is to use the tendency of the
oceanic state towards higher entropy. Holloway (1992) suggested a parametrization (the
Neptune effect) of these interactions based on statistical mechanics. We have explored the
relevance of the eddy/topography interaction on the large scale circulation of the Western
Mediterranean incorporating this parametrization in the MOM (Modular Ocean Model)
primitive equation model (Alvarez et al., 1994). Figure 4a and b show the circulation of
Atlantic waters obtained after 20 years of simulation when an almost stationary state is
reached, with and without Neptune effect. The different circulation patterns obtained in
the two simulations suggest that mesoscale features play a key role in modifying the large
scale circulation in this sea.