Regional circulation patterns of Mediterranean Outflow Water near the Iberian and African continental slopes

The Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) is a dense water mass originated in the Strait of Gibraltar. Downstream of the Gulf of Cádiz, the MOW forms a reservoir region west of the Iberian continental slopes at a buoyant depth of approximately 1000 m. This region plays a key role as the main centre wher...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ocean science 2019-05, Vol.15 (3), p.565-582
Main Authors: de Pascual-Collar, Alvaro, G. Sotillo, Marcos, Levier, Bruno, Aznar, Roland, Lorente, Pablo, Amo-Baladron, Arancha, Alvarez-Fanjul, Enrique
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abyssal plains
Abyssal zone
Analysis
Basins
Bathymeters
Bathymetry
Circulation
Circulation patterns
Continental slope
Continental slopes
Deep water
Dense water
Environmental monitoring
High resolution
Intermediate water
Intermediate water masses
Marine environment
Mesoscale features
Mixing
Mixing processes
Ocean circulation
Ocean currents
Ocean floor
Oceans
Outflow
Outflow waters
Physiographic features
Resolution
Salinity
Slope
Slopes
Topography (geology)
Variability
Vorticity
Water circulation
Water masses
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Summary:The Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) is a dense water mass originated in the Strait of Gibraltar. Downstream of the Gulf of Cádiz, the MOW forms a reservoir region west of the Iberian continental slopes at a buoyant depth of approximately 1000 m. This region plays a key role as the main centre where the MOW is mixed and distributed into the North Atlantic. The seafloor in this area is characterized by the presence of a complex bathymetry with three abyssal plains separated by mountain chains. Although the topographic features do not reach the surface, they influence ocean flows at intermediate and deep ocean layers, conditioning the distribution and circulation of MOW.
ISSN:1812-0792
1812-0784
1812-0792
DOI:10.5194/os-15-565-2019