Geostrophic currents in southeastern sector of the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

        The dynamic topography of the southeastern sector of the Mediterranean Sea is shown during the flood season before the High Dam and during the winter season for three depths, surface, 50 m and 100 m. The principle of D e f a n t (1941) for reference level was applied at offshore stations, while the method of G r o e n (1948) was used at coastal stations. One hundred and fifty hydrographic stations were used in the analysis. The level of no motion is between the 200 to 300 m layer for the offshore stations. The T-S diagrams show the interaction between atmosphere and sea on the water masses during the winter season, and the effect of the Nile flood before and after the construction of the High Dam. Comparisons between observed and calculated-geostrophic current during the summer confirms that the geo­strophic circulation constitutes the principal components of the total circula­tion. The circulation pattern for late summer (October) is noticeably distin­guishable from that for the winter season.