High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ18O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea

Mohamed Ayache; Jean Claude Dutay; Anne Mouchet; Kazuyo Tachikawa; Camille Risi; Gilles Ramstein

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101

High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ¹⁸O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea

Mohamed Ayache
, Jean Claude Dutay
, Anne Mouchet
, Kazuyo Tachikawa
, Camille Risi
, Gilles Ramstein

UVSQ
University of Liège
La Rochelle Université (IAE

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Water isotopes are widely used as proxies in climate research. However, our understanding of the processes that control their composition is still incomplete. In comparison to other major ocean basins, the Mediterranean Sea is well suited to improve our understanding of the factors influencing oxygen isotope variability and to refine current modelling approaches. This study successfully implemented and simulated stable water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δD) across the Mediterranean basin using the high-resolution NEMO-MED12 dynamical model. The model accurately simulates the well-documented east–west δ¹⁸O gradient in Mediterranean water masses. Moreover, the results show a good agreement between simulated and observed δD. δD exhibits a strong linear relationship with δ¹⁸O (r² = 0.98) and salinity (r² = 0.94) across the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, the modeled δ¹⁸O/salinity relationships align with observations, showing a weaker gradient in the eastern basins compared to the western basins. This development offers significant potential for paleoclimate-related applications.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1
Editors	Zhihua Zhang, Haroun Chenchouni, Mehmet Akif Sarikaya, Attila Ciner, Jasper Knight, Matteo Gentilucci, Imran Ali
Publisher	Springer Nature
Pages	541-545
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Print)	9783031867767
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2025
Event	3rd International conference on Mediterranean Geosciences Union, MedGU 2023 - Istanbul, Turkey Duration: 26 Nov 2023 → 30 Nov 2023

Publication series

Name	Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation
ISSN (Print)	2522-8714
ISSN (Electronic)	2522-8722

Conference

Conference	3rd International conference on Mediterranean Geosciences Union, MedGU 2023
Country/Territory	Turkey
City	Istanbul
Period	26/11/23 → 30/11/23

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Deuterium
High-resolution
Mediterranean sea
Modeling
NEMO-MED12
Oxygen-18
Passive tracer
Water isotopes

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101

Cite this

Ayache, M., Dutay, J. C., Mouchet, A., Tachikawa, K., Risi, C., & Ramstein, G. (2025). High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ¹⁸O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. In Z. Zhang, H. Chenchouni, M. A. Sarikaya, A. Ciner, J. Knight, M. Gentilucci, & I. Ali (Eds.), Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1 (pp. 541-545). (Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101

Ayache, Mohamed ; Dutay, Jean Claude ; Mouchet, Anne et al. / High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ¹⁸O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1. editor / Zhihua Zhang ; Haroun Chenchouni ; Mehmet Akif Sarikaya ; Attila Ciner ; Jasper Knight ; Matteo Gentilucci ; Imran Ali. Springer Nature, 2025. pp. 541-545 (Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation).

@inproceedings{8ef2f44a02ca4a948fb3d24c43e54925,

title = "High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ18O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea",

abstract = "Water isotopes are widely used as proxies in climate research. However, our understanding of the processes that control their composition is still incomplete. In comparison to other major ocean basins, the Mediterranean Sea is well suited to improve our understanding of the factors influencing oxygen isotope variability and to refine current modelling approaches. This study successfully implemented and simulated stable water isotopes (δ18O and δD) across the Mediterranean basin using the high-resolution NEMO-MED12 dynamical model. The model accurately simulates the well-documented east–west δ18O gradient in Mediterranean water masses. Moreover, the results show a good agreement between simulated and observed δD. δD exhibits a strong linear relationship with δ18O (r2 = 0.98) and salinity (r2 = 0.94) across the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, the modeled δ18O/salinity relationships align with observations, showing a weaker gradient in the eastern basins compared to the western basins. This development offers significant potential for paleoclimate-related applications.",

keywords = "Deuterium, High-resolution, Mediterranean sea, Modeling, NEMO-MED12, Oxygen-18, Passive tracer, Water isotopes",

author = "Mohamed Ayache and Dutay, \{Jean Claude\} and Anne Mouchet and Kazuyo Tachikawa and Camille Risi and Gilles Ramstein",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.; 3rd International conference on Mediterranean Geosciences Union, MedGU 2023 ; Conference date: 26-11-2023 Through 30-11-2023",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4\_101",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783031867767",

series = "Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

pages = "541--545",

editor = "Zhihua Zhang and Haroun Chenchouni and Sarikaya, \{Mehmet Akif\} and Attila Ciner and Jasper Knight and Matteo Gentilucci and Imran Ali",

booktitle = "Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1",

}

Ayache, M, Dutay, JC, Mouchet, A, Tachikawa, K, Risi, C & Ramstein, G 2025, High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ¹⁸O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. in Z Zhang, H Chenchouni, MA Sarikaya, A Ciner, J Knight, M Gentilucci & I Ali (eds), Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1. Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation, Springer Nature, pp. 541-545, 3rd International conference on Mediterranean Geosciences Union, MedGU 2023, Istanbul, Turkey, 26/11/23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101

High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ¹⁸O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. / Ayache, Mohamed; Dutay, Jean Claude; Mouchet, Anne et al.
Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1. ed. / Zhihua Zhang; Haroun Chenchouni; Mehmet Akif Sarikaya; Attila Ciner; Jasper Knight; Matteo Gentilucci; Imran Ali. Springer Nature, 2025. p. 541-545 (Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ18O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea

AU - Ayache, Mohamed

AU - Dutay, Jean Claude

AU - Mouchet, Anne

AU - Tachikawa, Kazuyo

AU - Risi, Camille

AU - Ramstein, Gilles

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

PY - 2025/1/1

Y1 - 2025/1/1

N2 - Water isotopes are widely used as proxies in climate research. However, our understanding of the processes that control their composition is still incomplete. In comparison to other major ocean basins, the Mediterranean Sea is well suited to improve our understanding of the factors influencing oxygen isotope variability and to refine current modelling approaches. This study successfully implemented and simulated stable water isotopes (δ18O and δD) across the Mediterranean basin using the high-resolution NEMO-MED12 dynamical model. The model accurately simulates the well-documented east–west δ18O gradient in Mediterranean water masses. Moreover, the results show a good agreement between simulated and observed δD. δD exhibits a strong linear relationship with δ18O (r2 = 0.98) and salinity (r2 = 0.94) across the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, the modeled δ18O/salinity relationships align with observations, showing a weaker gradient in the eastern basins compared to the western basins. This development offers significant potential for paleoclimate-related applications.

AB - Water isotopes are widely used as proxies in climate research. However, our understanding of the processes that control their composition is still incomplete. In comparison to other major ocean basins, the Mediterranean Sea is well suited to improve our understanding of the factors influencing oxygen isotope variability and to refine current modelling approaches. This study successfully implemented and simulated stable water isotopes (δ18O and δD) across the Mediterranean basin using the high-resolution NEMO-MED12 dynamical model. The model accurately simulates the well-documented east–west δ18O gradient in Mediterranean water masses. Moreover, the results show a good agreement between simulated and observed δD. δD exhibits a strong linear relationship with δ18O (r2 = 0.98) and salinity (r2 = 0.94) across the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, the modeled δ18O/salinity relationships align with observations, showing a weaker gradient in the eastern basins compared to the western basins. This development offers significant potential for paleoclimate-related applications.

KW - Deuterium

KW - High-resolution

KW - Mediterranean sea

KW - Modeling

KW - NEMO-MED12

KW - Oxygen-18

KW - Passive tracer

KW - Water isotopes

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028259404

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105028259404

SN - 9783031867767

T3 - Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation

SP - 541

EP - 545

BT - Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1

A2 - Zhang, Zhihua

A2 - Chenchouni, Haroun

A2 - Sarikaya, Mehmet Akif

A2 - Ciner, Attila

A2 - Knight, Jasper

A2 - Gentilucci, Matteo

A2 - Ali, Imran

PB - Springer Nature

T2 - 3rd International conference on Mediterranean Geosciences Union, MedGU 2023

Y2 - 26 November 2023 through 30 November 2023

ER -

Ayache M, Dutay JC, Mouchet A, Tachikawa K, Risi C, Ramstein G. High-Resolution Modeling of Water Isotope (δ¹⁸O and δD) Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. In Zhang Z, Chenchouni H, Sarikaya MA, Ciner A, Knight J, Gentilucci M, Ali I, editors, Dynamic Evolution of Atmospheric, Ecological, and Hydrological Systems in Circum-Mediterranean Regions - Proceedings of the 3rd MedGU 2023 Volume 1. Springer Nature. 2025. p. 541-545. (Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-86777-4_101