A 60 years re-analysis of the Mediterranean Sea circulation

We describe a synthesis of the Mediterranean Sea circulation structure and dynamics from a 60-year long reanalysis of the ocean circulation. This mesoscale permitting dynamical reconstruction of past ocean variability in the Mediterranean Sea allows the study of the time-mean circulation and its low frequency, decadal components. The decadal variabiiity is characterized by the northern Ionian Sea circulation reversal in the period from 1987 to 2006, so-called Northern Ionian reversal phenomenon. This reversal is provoked by the excursion ofthe Atlantic-Ionian Stream from the middle to the northern parts of the basin. It is found that reversal has occurred only once in the past 60 years.Atmospheric forcing variability is discussed in relation to the reversal.