Structure of the Mediterranean Undercurrent and Mediterranean Water spreading around the southwestern Iberian Peninsula

摘要: [1] RAFOS float and hydrographic data are analyzed to investigate the pathways, rates, mechanisms of Mediterranean Water (MW) spreading into North Atlantic from Gulf Cadiz, with an emphasis on processes other than meddies. We find that transition outflow a density current intermediate-depth jet occurs as it enters Portimao Canyon south Portugal due rapidly steepening topography associated turbulent entrainment. This feature was not seen in recent plume model simulations their use smoothed topography. In addition traditional lower salinity maximum (or core), denser, deeper continuous vein MW also traceable Cape St. Vincent. The mean velocity structure Undercurrent changes ∼30-km-wide peak westward speed ∼0.2 m s−1 along southern Iberian slope, broader, much weaker northward flow only ∼0.06 western part bottom slope. Lower core spread mainly (1) southward interior (2) (3) deep Tagus Abyssal Plain. average rate 0.01–0.02 toward west–northwest direction. Meddies forming near slope were found have indirect but profound impact spreading, often diverting approaching upstream interior. results compared hydrography-based studies pathways.