scholarly journals The AlborEX dataset: sampling of sub-mesoscale features in the Alboran Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Troupin ◽  
Ananda Pascual ◽  
Simon Ruiz ◽  
Antonio Olita ◽  
Benjamin Casas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Zone ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Underwater Gliders ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Data Files ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Alborán Sea

Abstract. The AlborEX (Alboran Sea Experiment) consisted of a multi-platform, multi-disciplinary experiment carried out in the Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean Sea) between 25 and 31 May 2014. The observational component of AlborEx aimed to sample the physical and biogeochemical properties of oceanographic features present along an intense frontal zone, with a particular interest in the vertical motions in its vicinity. To this end, the mission included 1 research vessel (66 profiles), 2 underwater gliders (adding up 552 profiles), 3 profiling floats, and 25 surface drifters.Near real-time ADCP velocities were collected nightly and during the CTD sections. All of the profiling floats acquired temperature and conductivity profiles, while the Provor-bio float also measured oxygen and chlorophyll a concentrations, coloured dissolved organic matter, backscattering at 700 nm, downwelling irradiance at 380, 410, and 490 nm, as well as photo-synthetically active radiation (PAR).In the context of mesoscale and sub-mesoscale interactions, the AlborEX dataset constitutes a particularly valuable source of information to infer mechanisms, evaluate vertical transport, and establish relationships between the thermal and haline structures and the biogeochemical variable evolution, in a region characterised by strong horizontal gradients provoked by the confluence of Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, thanks to its multi-platform, multi-disciplinary nature.The dataset presented in this paper can be used for the validation of high-resolution numerical models or for data assimilation experiment, thanks to the various scales of processes sampled during the cruise. All the data files that make up the dataset are available in the SOCIB data catalog at https://doi.org/10.25704/z5y2-qpye (Pascual et al., 2018). The nutrient concentrations are available at https://repository.socib.es:8643/repository/entry/show?entryid=07ebf505-bd27-4ae5-aa43-c4d1c85dd500 (last access: 24 December 2018).

scholarly journals The AlborEX dataset: sampling of submesoscale features in the Alboran Sea

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Troupin ◽  
Ananda Pascual ◽  
Simón Ruiz ◽  
Antonio Olita ◽  
Benjamín Casas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Zone ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Colored Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Underwater Gliders ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Surface Drifters ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Recent Version ◽  
Alborán Sea

Abstract. AlborEX (Alboran Sea Experiment) consisted of a multi-platform, multi-disciplinary experiment carried out in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea) between May 25 and 31, 2014. The observational component of AlborEx aimed to sample the physical and biogeochemical properties of oceanographic features present along an intense frontal zone, with a particular interest in the vertical motions in its vicinity. To this end, the mission included 1 research vessel (66 profiles), 2 underwater gliders (adding up 554 profiles), 3 profiling floats and 25 surface drifters. Near real-time ADCP velocities were collected nightly and during the CTD sections. All of the profiling floats acquired temperature and conductivity profiles, while the Provor-bio float also measured oxygen and chlorophyll-a concentrations, colored dissolved organic matter, backscattering at 700 nm, downwelling irradiance at 380, 410, 490 nm, and photo-synthetically active radiation (PAR). In the context of mesoscale and submesoscale interactions, the AlborEX dataset constitutes a particularly valuable source of information to infer mechanisms, evaluate vertical transport and establish relationships between the thermal and haline structures and the biogeochemical variable evolution, in a region characterised by strong horizontal gradients provoked by the confluence of Atlantic and Mediterranean Waters, thanks to its multi-platform, multi-disciplinary nature. The most recent version of the dataset is available at http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1328238.

Effects of mechanized dredging targeting Chamelea gallina, striped venus clams, on the associated discards in the northern Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea)

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-585
Author(s):  
Javier Urra ◽  
Teresa García ◽  
Estefanía León ◽  
Helena Gallardo-Roldán ◽  
Matías Lozano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
Damage Level ◽  
Biological Communities ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Chamelea Gallina ◽  
Alborán Sea

Mechanized dredging impact on discards was assessed along the northern Alboran Sea (W Mediterranean Sea). Data from 101 dredging operations were analysed for contrasting spatial and seasonal variability of damage, with the use of a three-level damage scale. 4.5% of discarded individuals displayed intermediate damage, whereas 11.3% displayed severe damage. Echinoderms displayed the highest level of damage (~75% of total collected individuals) and Echinocardium cf. mediterraneum was the most susceptible discarded species (85% with severe damage), followed by bivalves (7.3%) and crustaceans (3.3%). The target Chamelea gallina showed a low proportion of damaged individuals, probably due to their thick protective shell, which promotes the survival of discarded undersized target individuals. Spatial differences in damage level on discards were linked to some gear characteristics, to the higher amount of gravels and to longer tow durations, whereas damage was generally higher in cold months and partly related to higher quantities of hard shelled molluscs, in both cases increasing the abrasion and damage to retained organisms. Data suggest that dredges with a lower number of narrower iron teeth and towed for a shorter time could decrease the damage rate in discards of this fishery. A spatial management plan based on the type of grounds would be useful in order to improve efficiency of these fisheries and minimize their impact to soft bottoms with different commercial catches and biological communities.

scholarly journals New insight into 3-D mesoscale eddy properties from CMEMS operational models in the western Mediterranean

Ocean Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1111-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Mason ◽  
Simón Ruiz ◽  
Romain Bourdalle-Badie ◽  
Guillaume Reffray ◽  
Marcos García-Sotillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Composite Structures ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Mesoscale Eddy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Common Domain ◽  
Alborán Sea

Abstract. Rapid evolution of operational ocean forecasting systems is driven by advances in numerics and data assimilation schemes, and increase of in situ and satellite observations. The Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) is a major provider of operational products that are made available through an online catalogue. The service includes global and regional forecasts in near-real-time and reanalysis modes. Here, we apply an eddy tracker to daily sea surface height (SSH) fields from three such reanalysis products from the CMEMS catalogue, with the objective to evaluate their performance in terms of their eddy properties and three-dimensional composite structures over the 2013–2016 period. The products are (i) the Global Analysis Forecast, (ii) the Mediterranean Analysis Forecast and (iii) the Iberia–Biscay–Ireland Analysis Forecast. The common domain between these reanalyses is the western Mediterranean Sea (WMED) between the Strait of Gibraltar and Sardinia. This is a complex region with strong density gradients, especially in the Alboran Sea in the west where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters compete. Surface eddy property maps over the WMED of eddy radii, amplitudes and nonlinearity are consistent between the models, as well as with gridded altimetric data that serve as a reference. Mean 3-D eddy composites are shown only for three subregions in the Alboran Sea. These are mostly consistent between the models, with minor differences being attributed to details of the respective model configurations. This information can be informative for the ongoing development of these CMEMS operational modeling systems. The mesoscale data provided here may be of interest to CMEMS users and in the future could be a useful addition to a more diverse CMEMS catalogue.

scholarly journals Development of coccolithophore-based transfer functions in the Western Mediterranean Sea: a sea surface salinity reconstruction for the last 15.5 kyr

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 3759-3798
Author(s):  
B. Ausín ◽  
I. Hernández-Almeida ◽  
J.-A. Flores ◽  
F.-J. Sierro ◽  
M. Grosjean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Function ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Sea Surface Salinity ◽  
Weighted Averaging ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Surface Salinity ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea

Abstract. A new dataset of 88 marine surface sediment samples and related oceanic environmental variables (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, oxygen, etc.) was studied to quantify the relationship between assemblages of coccolithophore species and modern environmental conditions in the Western Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Strait of Gibraltar. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that coccolithophore species were primarily related to the sea surface salinity (SSS) gradient, which explains an independent and significant proportion of variance in the coccolithophore data. A quantitative coccolithophore-based transfer function to estimate SSS was developed using the Modern Analog Technique (MAT) and weighted-averaging partial-least square regression (WA-PLS). The bootstrapped regression coefficient (R2boot) was 0.85MAT and 0.80WA-PLS, with root-mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.29MAT and 0.30WA-PLS (psu). The resulting transfer function was applied to fossil coccolithophore assemblages in the highly resolved (∼ 65 yr) sediment core CEUTA10PC08 from the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean) in order to reconstruct SSS for the last 25 kyr. The reliability of the reconstruction was evaluated by assessing the degree of similarity between fossil and modern coccolithophore assemblage, and comparison of reconstruction with fossil ordination scores. Analogs were poor for the stadials associated with Heinrich Event 2 and 1 and part of the Last Glacial Maximum. Good analogs indicate more reliable reconstruction of the SSS for the last 15.5 kyr. During this period, several millennial and centennial SSS changes were observed and associated with variations in the Atlantic Water entering the Alboran Sea, sea-level oscillations, and arid or humid atmospheric conditions in the Western Mediterranean.

Coastal armouring affects intertidal biodiversity across the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea)

2021 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
pp. 105475
Author(s):  
F. Sedano ◽  
A. Pavón-Paneque ◽  
C. Navarro-Barranco ◽  
J.M. Guerra-García ◽  
M. Digenis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea

Cold-Water Coral Colonization of Alboran Sea Knolls, Western Mediterranean Sea

2012 ◽  
pp. 819-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben De Mol ◽  
David Amblas ◽  
Antonio Calafat ◽  
Miquel Canals ◽  
Ruth Duran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

First records of Asbestopluma hypogea Vacelet and Boury-Esnault, 1996 (Porifera, Demospongiae Cladorhizidae) on seamounts and in bathyal settings of the Mediterranean Sea

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2925 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICARDO AGUILAR ◽  
MATTHIAS LÓPEZ CORREA ◽  
BARBARA CALCINAI ◽  
XAVIER PASTOR ◽  
ANA DE LA TORRIENTE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Strait Of Sicily ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Submarine Caves ◽  
Alborán Sea

The carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma hypogea, was known only from shallow submarine caves (-15 to -26 m) in the Western Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic. Herein A. hypogea is reported from outside of caves, on seamounts in the Alboran Sea (-167 m), off the Balearics (-100 m) and north off Sicily (-660 m), and along steep bathyal escarpments in the Strait of Sicily (~700 m). These deeper ROV-based findings of A. hypogea are conform to the typical deep-sea occurrence of the Cladorhizidae.

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