In this paper we document dense water formation throughout the Adriatic shelf and coastal area in January/ February 2012, resulting in record-breaking densities observed during and after the event. The unprecedented dense water generation was preconditioned by a dry and warm year which resulted in a significant reduction of coastal freshwaters, superimposed on a long-term basin-wide salinity increase. The final event that triggered the dense water formation was an extended period of cold weather with strong and severe winds. Record-breaking potential density anomalies (above 30 kgm-3) were measured at several formation sites. Accumulated surface net heat and water losses in some coastal regions exceeded 1.5 GJm-2 and 250 kgm-2 over 21 days, respectively. Excessiveness, importance of shelf-type dense water formation and effects on the thermohaline circulation and deep aquatic systems are discussed.
CITATION STYLE
Mihanović, H., Vilibić, I., Carniel, S., Tudor, M., Russo, A., Bergamasco, A., … Raicich, F. (2013). Exceptional dense water formation on the adriatic shelf in the winter of 2012. Ocean Science, 9(3), 561–572. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-9-561-2013
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