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Ann. Geophys., 21, 281-297, 2003
www.ann-geophys.net/21/281/2003/
© European Geosciences Union 2003
Simulation and analysis of the mesoscale circulation in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea
V. Echevin1, M. Crépon1, and L. Mortier2
1Laboratoire d’Océanographie Dynamique et de Climatologie, Paris, France
2Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées, Paris, France
Abstract. The large-scale and
mesoscale circulation of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea are simulated with
an eddy-resolving primitive-equation regional model (RM) of 1/16° resolution
embedded in a general circulation model (GM) of the Mediterranean Sea of 1/8°
resolution. The RM is forced by a monthly climatology of heat fluxes,
precipitation and wind stress. The GM, which uses the same atmospheric forcing,
provides initial and boundary conditions for the RM. Analysis of the RM results
shows that several realistic features of the large-scale and mesoscale
circulation are evident in this region. The mean cyclonic circulation is in
good agreement with observations. Mesoscale variability is intense along the
coasts of Sardinia and Corsica, in the Gulf of Lions and in the Catalan Sea.
The length scales of the Northern Current meanders along the Provence coast and
in the Gulf of Lions’ shelf are in good agreement with observations. Winter
Intermediate Water is formed along most of the north-coast shelves, between the
Gulf of Genoa and Cape Creus. Advection of this water by the mean cyclonic
circulation generates a complex eddy field in the Catalan Sea. Intense
anticyclonic eddies are generated northeast of the Balearic Islands. These
results are in good agreement with mesoscale activity inferred from satellite
altimetric data. This work demonstrates the feasibility of a down-scaling
system composed of a general-circulation, a regional and a coastal model, which
is one of the goals of the Mediterranean Forecasting System Pilot Project.
Key words. Oceanography: physical
(currents; eddies and mesoscale processes; general circulation)
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