A Lagrangian estimate of the Mediterranean outflow's origin.
Abstract
The origin of the Mediterranean Outflow is investigated by deploying six
millions virtual Lagrangian parcels at the Strait of Gibraltar, and
tracing them backward in time using velocity estimates from an
eddy-permitting reanalysis. The Lagrangian parcels are followed until
they intercept one of three sections. The hypothesis is that each
section is associated with distinct water masses: the Gulf of Lions,
related to Western Mediterranean Deep Water and Western Intermediate
Water, carries 86\% of the Outflow’s transport; the
Northern Tyrrhenian, related to Tyrrhenian Deep and Intermediate Waters,
carries 1\% of the transport; the Strait of Sicily,
related to Levantine Intermediate Waters, carries 13\%
of the transport. The median transit times from the sections to the
Strait of Gibraltar range from 5 years (Gulf of Lions) to 8 years
(Strait of Sicily).