Is the Mediterranean Sea Circulation in a Steady State

Abstract

Most global ocean models are based on the assumption of a “steady state” ocean. Here, we investigate the validation of this hypothesis for the anthropized Mediterranean Sea. In order to do so, we calculated the mixing coefficients of the water masses detected in this sea via an optimum multiparameter analysis referred to as the MIX approach, using data from the BOUM (2008) and MedSeA (2013) cruises. The comparison of the mixing coefficients of each water mass, between 2008 and 2013, indicates that some of their proportions have significantly changed. Surface water mass proportions did not change significantly (Δ 0.05-0.1), while intermediate and deep water mass mixing coefficients of both Eastern and Western basins were significantly modified (~Δ 0.35). This study clearly shows that the Mediterranean seawater is not in a “steady state”.