Hydrology and currents observed in the channel of Sardinia during the PRIMO-1 experiment from November 1993 to October 1994

摘要: The channel of Sardinia is one the less-known areas Western Mediterranean sea. paths Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW), Tyrrhenian Dense (TDW) and Deep (WMDW) mainly, in this wide passage, are still debated. Two major aims PRIMO-1 (Programme de Recherche International en Mediterranee Occidentale) experiment were to specify mean circulation these intermediate deep waters there verify hypotheses about migration mesoscale eddies from Algeria their effect on all water masses. Despite an important loss moored instruments, current time series have been collected November 1993 October 1994 at four different locations two CTD cross-sections performed. Current meters Sardinian slope indicate, during 1 year, almost permanent alongslope flow toward northwest layers. Currents recorded African always directed eastward down 2500 m. Coherently, mid-western part channel, bottom northward along isobaths, while 200-m southward due influence anticyclonic eddies. At central low changing: episodes northeast orientation deepest axis alternate with westward flows. No seasonal variations clearly detected, but variability large has a signature western channel.