TY - JOUR
T1 - Annual SST cycle in the Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf of Elat
AU - Berman, Tal
AU - Paldor, Nathan
AU - Brenner, Steve
PY - 2003/3/1
Y1 - 2003/3/1
N2 - The summer-to-winter SST difference in the Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf of Elat, vary from 6°C in the Red Sea and Gulf of Elat to 12°C in the Eastern Mediterranean. This dramatic difference occurs despite the similar monthly mean values of heat flux components that prevail in these seas. We show that direct mixing by the wind stress, fresh water influx or upwelling cannot account for this difference. Instead, we demonstrate the crucial role of the deep-water temperature in determining the amplitude of the annual SST changes via its effect on the temperature gradient above the base of the permanent thermocline. Since the deep water in the Eastern Mediterranean is formed in the Aegean or Adriatic seas and not in situ, it is much colder than in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Elat. This low temperature of the deep water causes the observed, large, SST annual signal.
AB - The summer-to-winter SST difference in the Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf of Elat, vary from 6°C in the Red Sea and Gulf of Elat to 12°C in the Eastern Mediterranean. This dramatic difference occurs despite the similar monthly mean values of heat flux components that prevail in these seas. We show that direct mixing by the wind stress, fresh water influx or upwelling cannot account for this difference. Instead, we demonstrate the crucial role of the deep-water temperature in determining the amplitude of the annual SST changes via its effect on the temperature gradient above the base of the permanent thermocline. Since the deep water in the Eastern Mediterranean is formed in the Aegean or Adriatic seas and not in situ, it is much colder than in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Elat. This low temperature of the deep water causes the observed, large, SST annual signal.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0042701537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2002gl015860
DO - 10.1029/2002gl015860
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
AN - SCOPUS:0042701537
SN - 0094-8276
VL - 30
SP - 65-1 - 65-4
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
IS - 5
ER -