The Hydrodynamics of the Gulf of Cadiz and the Exchange of Water Masses Through the Gibraltar Strait

Studies on the exchange of water masses through the Gibraltar Strait, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, are numerous, mainly in recent years. However, there is a lack of works of synthesis about the mechanism, distribution and nature of the water masses etc., based on more recent...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Villanueva G. , Perfecto, Gutierrez-Mas, José
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The International Hydrographic Review 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/ihr/article/view/23217
Description
Summary:Studies on the exchange of water masses through the Gibraltar Strait, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, are numerous, mainly in recent years. However, there is a lack of works of synthesis about the mechanism, distribution and nature of the water masses etc., based on more recent data. On the other hand, the establishment of temperature and salinity data for the waters partially covering the continental shelf near Câdiz, has demonstrated the presence, in this area, of North Atlantic Surface Water (NASW), to about 140 metres depth, with clear seasonal variations. At a deeper level, some North Atlantic Central Water (NACW) has been detected, but the presence of Mediterranean Water (MW), which circulates below 500 metres, in the continental slope, has not been observed.