Autonomous underwater gliders monitoring variability at choke points in our ocean system: A case study in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Recent data from an autonomous ocean glider in the Ibiza Channel (Western Mediterranean Sea) show variations in the transport volumes of water over timescales of days-weeks, as large as those previously only identifiable as seasonal or eddy driven. High frequency variation in transports of water mas...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Heslop, Emma, Ruiz, Simón, Allen, John T., López-Jurado, José Luis, Renault, Lionel, Tintoré, Joaquín
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/91651
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/91651
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Balearic Sea
Transports
Gliders
Ocean variability
Mediterranean Sea
Descripción
Sumario:Recent data from an autonomous ocean glider in the Ibiza Channel (Western Mediterranean Sea) show variations in the transport volumes of water over timescales of days-weeks, as large as those previously only identifiable as seasonal or eddy driven. High frequency variation in transports of water masses has critical implications for ocean forecasting. Three potential modes of transport are proposed, which have the potential to simplify the previously observed complex pattern of flows. Restricted choke points between ocean basins are critical locations to monitor water transport variability; the Ibiza Channel is one such choke point, where variation in the transports of water masses are known to affect the spawning grounds of commercially important fish stocks. © 2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.