Publication Date:
2017-04-04
Description:
The surface circulation in the Liguro-Provençal basin (Northwestern Mediterranean)
is studied using satellite-tracked drifters in 2007-2009. Complex circulation patterns
prevailed in the eastern Ligurian Sea, before the drifters eventually joined the
Northern Current (NC) in the coastal area off Genoa. Between 5°E and 7°E30’, most
drifters were advected offshore before heading to the east and eventually closing a
basin-wide cyclonic circulation. This offshore turning is related to the wind and wind
stress curl during Mistral events. Although the Western Corsican Current was well
delineated by the drifters, no signature of the Eastern Corsican Current was shown,
indicating limited connectivity between the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas in summer
2007. Pseudo-Eulerian velocity statistics were calculated in the coastal region
extending between Genoa and the Gulf of Lyons. Fast currents are evident on the
shelf break, especially off Imperia (maximum of 90 cm/s) where the bathymetric
slope is larger and the NC is closer to shore and narrower. In contrast, a stagnation
area inshore of the NC near Fréjus is characterized by little mean flow and low
velocity fluctuations. Mean currents are also reduced off Menton-Nice where the
variability is maximum. More to the west, the NC broadens and slightly reduces in
strength.
Description:
Submitted
Description:
4.6. Oceanografia operativa per la valutazione dei rischi in aree marine
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
open
Keywords:
Surface Circulation;
;
Drifters;
;
Coastal Currents;
;
Northwestern Mediterranean
;
03. Hydrosphere::03.01. General::03.01.04. Ocean data assimilation and reanalysis
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
manuscript
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