Air-Sea Interaction and Coupling with Submesoscale structures in the MEDiterranean Assess the role of the ocean meso and submesoscale structures into dense water formation in the Western Mediterranean Strong wind events in the North Western Mediterranean (NWM) lead to dense water formation by interacting with the upper ocean dynamics, but not only through the high surface buoyancy loss. In the area of the Gulf of Lions, which is a key spot of deep ocean convection, dense water formation results from the strong interactions, at meso and submesoscales, of the North-Current, the cyclonic gyre and intense atmospheric events like Mistral and Tramontana. ASICS-MED aims at identifying the fine-scale processes involved in the oceanic and atmospheric boundary layer coupling in order to unravel the mechanisms producing dense water. Better representing these mechanisms in state-of-the-art ocean models is of crucial importance to accurately simulate both the water masses and the basin-scale thermohaline circulation. The deliverables expected from ASICS-MED cover the following 3 themes:
High-resolution modelling of the convection area including the development of two new parameterizations for ocean convection and turbulent surface fluxes, and a high-resolution ocean-atmosphere coupled model covering the Western Mediterranean. Studies of the dynamics of the marine atmospheric boundary layer and of the meso and submesoscale ocean structures, as well as studies of air-sea coupled processes during strong wind events and dense water formation. ASICS-MED is funded by the French National Research Agency under the white call SIMI 6 2012. Partners : CNRM-GAME, MIO, IPSL, LA Coordinator : Hervé Giordani (CNRM-GAME) Funding: ANR Blanc SIMI6 2012 Contact Nr: ANR- 12-BS06-0003 Start date: 01/11/2012 Duration: 4 years ![]()
|