Hydrographic Structure of the Convection Regime in the Gulf of Lions: Winter 1987

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Abstract
Deep winter convection in the northwestern Mediterranean (Gulf of Lions) and the subsequent formation of Mediterranean Deep Water were observed using advanced oceanographic instrumentation during a six-week long experiment in 1987. The severe 1987 European winter forced an intense outbreak of the Mistral, a cold, dry wind blowing down the Rhone valley, in mid-January. Surface cooling and evaporation were of sufficient intensity to cause an initial episode of deep convection shortly before the experiment described here began. However, several more Mistral events took place during the experiment. During several cruises into the area, CTD and absolute horizontal velocity profiles were measured in the mixed area over the Rhone fan as well as across the southern front of this region; in addition, continuous records of shipboard meteorological and oceanographic parameters (air temperature, surface salinity, etc.) were made. An early-February Mistral apparently did not produce enough surface cooling to ... Abstract Deep winter convection in the northwestern Mediterranean (Gulf of Lions) and the subsequent formation of Mediterranean Deep Water were observed using advanced oceanographic instrumentation during a six-week long experiment in 1987. The severe 1987 European winter forced an intense outbreak of the Mistral, a cold, dry wind blowing down the Rhone valley, in mid-January. Surface cooling and evaporation were of sufficient intensity to cause an initial episode of deep convection shortly before the experiment described here began. However, several more Mistral events took place during the experiment. During several cruises into the area, CTD and absolute horizontal velocity profiles were measured in the mixed area over the Rhone fan as well as across the southern front of this region; in addition, continuous records of shipboard meteorological and oceanographic parameters (air temperature, surface salinity, etc.) were made. An early-February Mistral apparently did not produce enough surface cooling to ...

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