Long-term indicators are derivate from WMOP in order to follow the temporal evolution of the mode overall the WMOP domain but also over some key sub-basins such as the Alborán Sea, the Balearic Sea and the Gulf of Lionl. You'll find in this section the main choosen indicators.
Indicators Menu
Indicators (SST, SSS, KE, MLD, Hc [0-150m], transport) are provided overall the WMOP domain but also over the Alborán Sea,
Gulf of Lion and Balearic Sea sub-basins regions (see Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Bathymetry of the WMOP domain. The red boxes represent the considered sub-bassins and the pink lines the section used to estimate transport in the corresponding section. |
WMOP domain
Sea Surface Temperature (ºC)
Sea surface temperature (SST) is the temperature of the ocean near the surface.
Knowing the SST is crucial for many reasons. For physic scientists, it can be used as a proxy for
the exchange of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. From a biological point of view,
the SST determines the development of different biological organisms. Knowing the thermal front
can also be useful for the fisherman since it indicates prolific fishing zones. Finally,
it is also an important parameter for the swimmer !
This subsection allows to monitor the temporal evolution of this parameter. Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean SST. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged SST timeseries for the last month.
This subsection allows to monitor the temporal evolution of this parameter. Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean SST. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged SST timeseries for the last month.
| Figure 1: Yesterday WMOP SST | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean SST overall the domain |
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Sea Surface Salinity (PSU)
Along with temperature, salinity is a key factor that determines the density of ocean water
and thus determines the convection and re-emergence of water masses. The Sea Surface Salinity
is directly impacted by both precipitation, river run-off and evaporation.
Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean SSS. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged
SSS timeseries for the last month.
| Figure1: Yesteday WMOP SSS | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean SSS overall the WMOP domain |
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Kinetic Energy (m2/s2)
The kinetic energy (KE) of the ocean is the energy which it possesses due to its circulation.
Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean KE. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged KE timeseries for the last month.
| Figure 1: WMOP Yesterday KE | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean KE overall the WMOP domain |
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Mixed Layer Depth (m)
The highly variable ocean mixed layer is where all ocean-atmosphere exchanges of mass,
momentum, energy, freshwater and heat take place. The ocean mixed layer is where the water
masses formation occurs and it plays a primary role in the ocean circulation.
The mixed layer depths are calculated using a density criterion with a threshold value ∆σθ corresponding to a fixed ∆T=0.2°C. D’Ortenzio et al. (2005) have shown that this criterion is more suitable in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean MLD. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged MLD timeseries for the last month.
The mixed layer depths are calculated using a density criterion with a threshold value ∆σθ corresponding to a fixed ∆T=0.2°C. D’Ortenzio et al. (2005) have shown that this criterion is more suitable in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean MLD. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged MLD timeseries for the last month.
| Figure 1: WMOP Yesterday MLD | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean MLD overall the WMOP domain |
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Heat Content (10e21 J)
The western basin of the Mediterranean Sea comprises three water masses (Robinson et al., 2001): the surface layer upper the first 150m dominated by the inflow of Atlantic waters, the Levantine intermediate layer between 150-600m and deep waters below 600m. The first layer is where mostly of the air-sea heat exchanges occur. Therefore, the heat content integrated within [0-150m] is a useful climatic proxy to monitor the ocean heat content as well as the air-sea heat exchanges.
Figure 1 displays the WMOP yesterday mean Heat content [0-150m]. Figure 2 represents the daily mean and basin averaged Heat content [0-150m] timeseries for the last month.
| Figure 1: Last month WMOP Heat content overall the WMOP domain |
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Net Volume Transports (Sv)
In this section, transports in key sections (see pink lines on Figure "from Indicators menu") are calculated and displayed.
By convention, northward and eastward transport are positive (inflow).
The narrow and shallow Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. It is ~60 km long and ~20 km wide, with a minimum width of 15 km near Tarifa and a shallow sill located near Camarinal (west of Tarifa), with a minimum depth of 300 m. An excess of evaporation with respect to the freshwater input and the conservation of mass and salt in the Mediterranean Sea drive the mean circulation in the strait. The mean circulation, generally called inverse estuarine, is characterized by two counterflowing currents: In the upper layer, Atlantic water with a salinity of ~36.2 practical salinity units (psu) flows eastward, spreading into the Mediterranean Sea, and in the lower layer, Mediterranean water with a salinity of ~38.4 psu flows westward toward the Atlantic Ocean (Lacombe and Richez, 1982). Thus, the Gibraltar strait is a key transport section. Figure 1 displays the last month inflow, outflow and net transport through this section.
For the Balearis Sea, it is very important to monitor the entrance of Atlantic water and exit of Mediterranean water through the Ibiza channel (Figure 2) since it can modulate both the Balearic Sea circulation and the Alborán Sea circulation (e.g. presence of Almeria-Orán front, gyral circulation, see Research section here for further details). Additionally, to complete the monitoring of the Balearic Sea water masses transport, Figure 3 and 4 provide the inflow, outflow and net transport through the Mallorca-Minorca channel and Mallorca-Peninsula channel.
The narrow and shallow Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. It is ~60 km long and ~20 km wide, with a minimum width of 15 km near Tarifa and a shallow sill located near Camarinal (west of Tarifa), with a minimum depth of 300 m. An excess of evaporation with respect to the freshwater input and the conservation of mass and salt in the Mediterranean Sea drive the mean circulation in the strait. The mean circulation, generally called inverse estuarine, is characterized by two counterflowing currents: In the upper layer, Atlantic water with a salinity of ~36.2 practical salinity units (psu) flows eastward, spreading into the Mediterranean Sea, and in the lower layer, Mediterranean water with a salinity of ~38.4 psu flows westward toward the Atlantic Ocean (Lacombe and Richez, 1982). Thus, the Gibraltar strait is a key transport section. Figure 1 displays the last month inflow, outflow and net transport through this section.
For the Balearis Sea, it is very important to monitor the entrance of Atlantic water and exit of Mediterranean water through the Ibiza channel (Figure 2) since it can modulate both the Balearic Sea circulation and the Alborán Sea circulation (e.g. presence of Almeria-Orán front, gyral circulation, see Research section here for further details). Additionally, to complete the monitoring of the Balearic Sea water masses transport, Figure 3 and 4 provide the inflow, outflow and net transport through the Mallorca-Minorca channel and Mallorca-Peninsula channel.
| Figure 1: Strait of Gibraltar Net Transport | Figure 2: Ibiza Channel Net Transport |
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| Figure 3: Mallorca Channel Net Transport | Figure 4: Mallorca-España Channel Net Transport |
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Sub-bassins
Alboran Sea
| Figure 1: Last month WMOP mean SST Alboran Sea | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean SSS Alboran Sea | Figure 3: Last month WMOP mean EKE Alboran Sea |
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| Figure 4: Last month WMOP mean MLD Alboran Sea | Figure 5: Last month WMOP mean Heat content 0-150m Alboran Sea | |
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Balearic Sea
| Figure 1: Last month WMOP mean SST Balearic Sea | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean SSS Balearic Sea | Figure 3: Last month WMOP mean EKE Balearic Sea |
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| Figure 4: Last month WMOP mean MLD Balearic Sea | Figure 5: Last month WMOP mean Heat content 0-150m Balearic Sea | |
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Gulf of Lion
| Figure 1: Last month WMOP mean SST Gulf of Lion | Figure 2: Last month WMOP mean SSS Gulf of Lion | Figure 3: Last month WMOP mean EKE Gulf of Lion |
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| Figure 4: Last month WMOP mean MLD Balearic Sea | Figure 5: Last month WMOP mean Heat content 0-150m Balearic Sea | |
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