Climatological Hydrographic Properties and Water Mass Transports in the Balearic Channels From Repeated Observations Over 1996–2019

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.568602
• Publication Date: 2020-09-22T12:47:43Z
• Authors: Manuel Vargas-Yáñez; Melanie Juza; Rosa Balbín; Pedro Velez-Belchí; M. Carmen García-...; Francina Moya; Alonso Hernández-...
• Keywords: Balearic islands; Geostrophic current; Annual cycle; Temperature salinity diagrams

The longest time series of CTD transects available in the Mallorca and Ibiza Channels (1996-2019) are presented. These hydrographic sections have a three-monthly periodicity allow to resolve seasonal cycle water mass properties. Hydrographic sectionsThey organized two closed boxes also allowing use inverse models for calculation absolute geostrophic transports through Channels. long allows establish climatological distributions potential temperature salinity each season year as well asand other relevant statistical properties such variance covariance functions. TheOur results indicate that these depart from normality makingand median asis better statistic than mean value description fields. field shows upper layer indicating higher influence Atlantic Water during summer, decreasing rest year. Western Intermediate Water, which is mainlygenerally formed North-Western Mediterranean Balearic Sea, observed preferentially Channel winter spring. This detected using geometry-based method instead traditional criterion based on predefined ranges. TheseBoth masses flow southwards Channel, northwards although intrusions opposite directions observed. Below, tThe Levantine similar behaviour, but transport analyses suggest most this recirculates with Current along northern slope Islands Current. Although depth both prevents circulation deep waters, small fraction Deep could overflow sills.