A numerical model study of the Alboran Sea Gyre |
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| Institution: | 1. Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France;2. Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA;3. Douglas Hospital Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada;1. Sector of Fukushima Research and Development, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 10-2, Fukasaku, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima 963-7700, Japan;2. Fukushima Branch, National Institute of Environmental Studies, 10-2, Fukasaku, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima 963-7700, Japan;3. Center for Computational Science & e-Systems, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, University of Tokyo Kashiwanoha Campus Satellite, 178-4-4 Wakashiba, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-0871, Japan;4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan;1. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, Aptdo. Correos 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain;2. Dpto. Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain;3. Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), 07015 Palma, Spain;4. Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio, Universidad de Alicante, Aptdo. Correos 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain;5. CIMAR - Centro de Investigación Marina de Santa Pola - Universidad de Alicante, Cuartel Torre D′en Mig s/n, Cabo de Santa Pola, Alicante 03130, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Reduced gravity and two-layer numerical models have been used to study the circulation in the westernmost basin of the Mediterranean Sea, the Alboran Sea. Circulation is forced by flow through a 20 km wide port in the western boundary representing the Strait of Gibraltar.The reduced gravity model domain is a rectangle measuring 600 km × 160 km with 10 km × 5 km grid resolution. When forced by an eastward on northeastward inflow, the model solutions evolve to a steady state which exhibits a meandering current. The first meander of the current forms the northern boundary of an anticyclonic gyre. Horizontal dimensions of the gyre are strongly dependent upon the inflow angle, vorticity associated with the incoming current, magnitude of the incoming transport and the north-south extent of the basin. The meandering current is considered a standing Rossby wave with a highly distorted vorticity trajectory due to the interaction of the current with the northern and southern boundaries. When velocity (transport) is increased, the wavelength increases approximately as √v. As a result the anticyclonic gyre shifts east as velocity increases and west as velocity decreases. These solutions show that bottom topography, winds and coastline features are not necessary mechanisms for the formation of the gyre.Two-layer model solutions were obtained using realistic topography, geometry and a westward moving lower layer. The addition of the lower layer flow and topography distorted the circulation in the upper layer, particulary in the southern half of the basin. This is caused by the large topographically steered currents along the southern shelf.The high variability of the horizontal dimensions and location of the gyre has been observed both experimentally and through satellite imagery. Model results show that the high variability is caused by variations in the inflow velocity.Drifter tracks, both observational and model derived, help determine the circulation in both layers of the Alboran Sea. The close comparison between model and experimental drifters lends credibility to the model circulation and dynamics. |
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