“Origin and pathways of Winter Intermediate Water (WIW) in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea using observations and numerical simulation” by Juza et al. has been published in Journal of Geophysical Research in december 2013

This new paper from SOCIB is an example of the type of essential process studies that are needed to better understand and establish the variability of global and regional ocean circulation (in line with Bryden et al., 2012[1] and featured in Nature by Schiermeier, 2013[2]) using multi-platform approach (following SOCIB -since 2009- and more recently reported in Nature by Witze [2013][3]) and their relevance in climate variability at global and regional scales. For this, multi-platform approaches are needed as well as careful modelling studies where the water formation process, the spreading characteristics and phases, together with the dynamical relevance can be studied under different scenarios. This is basically the main goal of this paper, where the origin and pathways of WIW are studied.

Abstract: The study of water masses worldwide (their formation, spreading, mixing, and impact on general circulation) is essential for a better understanding of the ocean circulation and variability. In this paper, the formation and main pathways of Winter Intermediate Water (WIW) in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea (NWMED) are investigated during the winter-spring 2011 using observations and numerical simulation. The main results show that the WIW, formed along the continental shelves of the Gulf of Lion and Balearic Sea, circulates southward following five preferential pathways depending on the WIW formation site location and the oceanic conditions. WIW joins the northeastern part of the Balearic Sea, or flows along the continental shelves until joining the Balearic Current (maximum of 0.33 Sv in early-April) or further south until the Ibiza Channel entrance. Two additional trajectories, contributing to water mass exchanges with the southern part of the Western Mediterranean Sea, bring the WIW through the Ibiza and Mallorca Channels (maxima of 0.26 Sv in late-March and 0.1 Sv in early-April, respectively). The circulation of WIW over the NWMED at 50–200 m depth, its mixing and spreading over the Western Mediterranean Sea (reaching the south of the Balearic Islands, the Algero-Provencal basin, the Ligurian and the Alboran Seas) suggest that the WIW may have an impact on the ocean circulation by eddy blocking effect, exchange of water masses between north and south subbasins of Western Mediterranean Sea through the Ibiza Channel or modification of the ocean stratification.

Citation: Juza, M., L. Renault, S. Ruiz, and J. Tintor e (2013), Origin and pathways of Winter Intermediate Water in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea using observations and numerical simulation, J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 118, doi:10.1002/2013JC009231.