Abstract: We have derived a water mass model for the Strait of Sicily, based on 1994 and 1995 cruise data. The model consists of seven water masses, suggested by the measured shapes of the vertical temperature and salinity distributions. The core of the Atlantic water is distributed below the surface as a shallow layer, in a depth range of 40 to 100 m, with a salinity minimum. It is capped by upper and surface layers above and a mixed region below. At the bottom, Levantine water is present with a transition region above. Between the mixed and transition region there is, on occasion, a fresher water layer. The structure and statistics of water masses is analyzed over the Strait of Sicily region in terms of their temperature, salinity, and depth values. Objective analysis of the temperature, salinity, and depth parameters is performed in latitude and longitude. The water masses are tracked in terms of their parameter signatures. Changes in temperature and salinity distributions are interpreted. 2-D ellipses that represent the water masses, in terms of means and standard deviation, are derived in a space of temperature, salinity, and depth. Their axes are the standard deviations of parameter space ranges. The areas of the ellipses are compared against the temperature and salinity data distribution. The water mass composition ratios are computed and analyzed. Hypotheses and mechanisms for the origin and mixing of water masses are suggested.
Publication Year: 1999
Publication Date: 1999-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 24
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