Schematically, the Mediterranean Sea comprises three main wa- ter masses (EEA and UNEP 1999): • the Modified Atlantic Water (MAW), found in the surface layer, with a thickness of 50–200 m and characterised by a salinity of 36,2 psu (practical salinity units) near Gibraltar to 38,6 psu in the Levantine basin;

• the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW), formed in the Le- vantine basin, lying in depth between 200 and 800 m, and characterised by temperatures of 13–15,5°C and salinity of 38,4–39,1 psu;

• the Mediterranean Deep Water (MDW), formed in both the Western and Eastern basins. The Western Mediterranean Deep Water (WMDW) is characterised by a temperature of 12,7°C and a salinity of 38,4 psu, while the Eastern Mediter- ranean Deep Water (EMDW) is characterised by a temperature of 13,6°C and a salinity of 38,7 psu.

Within the sea, the incoming Atlantic water is continuously modified by interactions with the atmosphere and mixing with

older surface waters and with the waters underneath. All along its course, MAW is seasonally warmed or cooled, but overall its salt content increases and it becomes denser. In autumn, in the northern parts of both basins, MAW remains at the surface. In winter, cold and dry air masses induce marked evaporation and direct cooling of MAW, resulting in a dramatic increase in its density, which makes it sink. This sinking occurs in a series of specific zones, generally located in the northern parts of the basins, and is responsible for the formation of the deeper wa- ters in the Mediterranean.

Besides some secondary formation of deeper waters related to overcooling of shelf waters, the major deep water formation process occurs offshore in some sub-basins. Fundamentally, densified MAW sinks and mixes with the denser waters under- neath. The mixture continues to increase in density. The result- ing water masses will be either intermediate or deep. Deep vertical convection in the northern part of the Western Basin forms the WMDW.

INTRODUCTION TO THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

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