The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea
[1] Sea level in the Mediterranean Sea over the period 1993–2011 is studied on the basis of altimetry, temperature, and salinity data and gravity measurements from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) (2002–2010). An observed increase in sea level corresponds to a linear sea level trend o...
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ftunisfloridatam:oai:digitalcommons.usf.edu:msc_facpub-2403 2023-05-15T17:31:23+02:00 The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea Tsimplis, M. N. Calafat, F. M. Marcos, M. Jordà, G. Gomis, D. Fenoglio-Marc, L. Struglia, M. V. Josey, S. A. Chambers, D. P. 2013-01-01T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1415 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2403&context=msc_facpub unknown Digital Commons @ University of South Florida https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1415 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2403&context=msc_facpub default Marine Science Faculty Publications sea level North Atlantic Oscillation Mediterranean Sea mass addition Life Sciences article 2013 ftunisfloridatam 2022-01-20T18:40:25Z [1] Sea level in the Mediterranean Sea over the period 1993–2011 is studied on the basis of altimetry, temperature, and salinity data and gravity measurements from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) (2002–2010). An observed increase in sea level corresponds to a linear sea level trend of 3.0 ± 0.5 mm/yr dominated by the increase in the oceanic mass in the basin. The increase in sea level does not, however, take place linearly but over two 2–3 year periods, each contributing 2–3 cm of sea level. Variability in the basin sea level and its mass component is dominated by the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The NAO influence on sea level is primarily linked with atmospheric pressure changes and local wind field changes. However, neither the inverse barometer correction nor a barotropic sea level model forced by atmospheric pressure and wind can remove fully the NAO influence on the basin sea level. Thus, a third contributing mechanism linked with the NAO is suggested. During winter 2010, a low NAO index caused a basin sea level increase of 12 cm which was almost wholly due to mass changes and is evidenced by GRACE. About 8 cm of the observed sea level change can be accounted for as due to atmospheric pressure and wind changes. The residual 4 cm of sea level change is caused by the newly identified contribution. The physical mechanisms that may be responsible for this additional contribution are discussed. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Digital Commons University of South Florida (USF) |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Digital Commons University of South Florida (USF) |
op_collection_id |
ftunisfloridatam |
language |
unknown |
topic |
sea level North Atlantic Oscillation Mediterranean Sea mass addition Life Sciences |
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sea level North Atlantic Oscillation Mediterranean Sea mass addition Life Sciences Tsimplis, M. N. Calafat, F. M. Marcos, M. Jordà, G. Gomis, D. Fenoglio-Marc, L. Struglia, M. V. Josey, S. A. Chambers, D. P. The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea |
topic_facet |
sea level North Atlantic Oscillation Mediterranean Sea mass addition Life Sciences |
description |
[1] Sea level in the Mediterranean Sea over the period 1993–2011 is studied on the basis of altimetry, temperature, and salinity data and gravity measurements from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) (2002–2010). An observed increase in sea level corresponds to a linear sea level trend of 3.0 ± 0.5 mm/yr dominated by the increase in the oceanic mass in the basin. The increase in sea level does not, however, take place linearly but over two 2–3 year periods, each contributing 2–3 cm of sea level. Variability in the basin sea level and its mass component is dominated by the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The NAO influence on sea level is primarily linked with atmospheric pressure changes and local wind field changes. However, neither the inverse barometer correction nor a barotropic sea level model forced by atmospheric pressure and wind can remove fully the NAO influence on the basin sea level. Thus, a third contributing mechanism linked with the NAO is suggested. During winter 2010, a low NAO index caused a basin sea level increase of 12 cm which was almost wholly due to mass changes and is evidenced by GRACE. About 8 cm of the observed sea level change can be accounted for as due to atmospheric pressure and wind changes. The residual 4 cm of sea level change is caused by the newly identified contribution. The physical mechanisms that may be responsible for this additional contribution are discussed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tsimplis, M. N. Calafat, F. M. Marcos, M. Jordà, G. Gomis, D. Fenoglio-Marc, L. Struglia, M. V. Josey, S. A. Chambers, D. P. |
author_facet |
Tsimplis, M. N. Calafat, F. M. Marcos, M. Jordà, G. Gomis, D. Fenoglio-Marc, L. Struglia, M. V. Josey, S. A. Chambers, D. P. |
author_sort |
Tsimplis, M. N. |
title |
The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea |
title_short |
The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea |
title_full |
The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea |
title_fullStr |
The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Effect of the NAO on Sea Level and on Mass Changes in the Mediterranean Sea |
title_sort |
effect of the nao on sea level and on mass changes in the mediterranean sea |
publisher |
Digital Commons @ University of South Florida |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1415 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2403&context=msc_facpub |
genre |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
op_source |
Marine Science Faculty Publications |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1415 https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2403&context=msc_facpub |
op_rights |
default |
_version_ |
1766128918685810688 |