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18 Review of the Circulation and Characteristics of Intermediate Water Masses of the Mediterranean: Implications for Cold-Water Coral Habitats

  • Daniel R. Hayes
  • , Katrin Schroeder
  • , Pierre Marie Poulain
  • , Pierre Testor
  • , Laurent Mortier
  • , Anthony Bosse
  • , Xavier du Madron
  • Oceanography Center
  • University of Cyprus
  • CNR, ISMAR
  • Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale
  • Sorbonne Université
  • Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
  • CEFREM

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter describes the main features of the circulation and properties of the intermediate water masses of the Mediterranean. Interaction with other water masses is also briefly summarised. Both observational and numerical studies described in the literature are used, as well as some more recent, unpublished data sets. It is shown that the main water mass important to cold-water coral habitats is the Levantine Intermediate Water which forms in the Levantine Sea, Eastern Mediterranean and spreads throughout the entire Mediterranean before leaving via the Gibraltar Strait. This pathway is described as well as the expected temperature and salinity along that pathway. Current speed regimes are estimated from the few studies that exist.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCoral Reefs of the World
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages195-211
Number of pages17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019

Publication series

NameCoral Reefs of the World
Volume9
ISSN (Print)2213-719X
ISSN (Electronic)2213-7203

Keywords

  • Circulation
  • Cold-water corals
  • Deep water
  • Hydrography
  • Intermediate water
  • Mediterranean sea

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