Wintertime buoyancy forcing, changing seawater properties, and two different circulation systems produced in the Adriatic

摘要: [1] Measurements performed in winter 2002/2003 and spring 2003 off the east Adriatic coast showed that East Current (EAC) peaked January/February (as expected from previous findings) again May (not expected). The first maximum corresponded with considerable cross-shore variability of seawater properties, colder, fresher water prevailing close to coast, warmer, saltier dominating open sea. second coincided massive intrusion warm, saline south Adriatic. Meteorological hydrologic forcing was anomalous over measurement interval: during cooling river outflows were strong, pronounced warming exceptional dryness. In order interpret two EAC maxima a simple numerical model reproducing response Adriatic-Mediterranean system wintertime developed. It found could be related coastal freshwater input offshore evaporation area, probably due surface while warmer conditions prevailed above Mediterranean. resulting horizontal density gradients supported different circulation systems, one within Adriatic, other between Mediterranean, they differed not only spatial but also temporal scales, therefore supporting occurrence distinctive maxima.