Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2481
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2481
27 Oct 2023
 | 27 Oct 2023

Tipping of the double-diffusive regime in the Southern Adriatic pit in 2017 in connection with record high salinity values

Felipe L. L. Amorim, Julien Le Meur, Achim Wirth, and Vanessa Cardin

Abstract. Whenever salinity decreases with depth the water column is either unstable or in a state called salt fingering (SF), which exhibits increased vertical mixing. Analysis of a high-frequency time series of thermohaline data measured at the EMSO-E2M3A Regional Facility in the Southern Adriatic Pit (SAP) from 2014 to 2019 reveal that in the south Adriatic SF is the dominant regime. The same time series shows the presence of a very saline core of the Levantine Intermediate Water that penetrated with unprecedented strength during the winter of 2016/17 at around 550 dbar and even higher salinity water above. The effect of strong heat loss at the surface during that winter allowed deep convection to transport this high salinity water from the intermediate to the deep layers within the pit. This resulted in an increase in SF throughout the water column. In the subsurface layer (350 to 550 dbar) the increase is from 27 % to 72 % of observations. Consequently, we observe an alteration of vertical stratification throughout the water column during winter 2016/17, from a stratified water column to an almost homogeneous water column down to 700 dbar, with no return in the following years. 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Mar 2024
Tipping of the double-diffusive regime in the southern Adriatic Pit in 2017 in connection with record high-salinity values
Felipe L. L. Amorim, Julien Le Meur, Achim Wirth, and Vanessa Cardin
Ocean Sci., 20, 463–474, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-463-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-463-2024, 2024
Short summary
Felipe L. L. Amorim, Julien Le Meur, Achim Wirth, and Vanessa Cardin

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2481', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Nov 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2481', Anonymous Referee #2, 19 Dec 2023
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2481', Anonymous Referee #3, 21 Dec 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2481', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Nov 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2481', Anonymous Referee #2, 19 Dec 2023
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2481', Anonymous Referee #3, 21 Dec 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Vanessa Cardin on behalf of the Authors (19 Jan 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (19 Jan 2024) by Matjaz Licer
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (21 Jan 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (29 Jan 2024)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (29 Jan 2024) by Matjaz Licer
AR by Vanessa Cardin on behalf of the Authors (05 Feb 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (12 Feb 2024) by Matjaz Licer
AR by Vanessa Cardin on behalf of the Authors (13 Feb 2024)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Mar 2024
Tipping of the double-diffusive regime in the southern Adriatic Pit in 2017 in connection with record high-salinity values
Felipe L. L. Amorim, Julien Le Meur, Achim Wirth, and Vanessa Cardin
Ocean Sci., 20, 463–474, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-463-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-463-2024, 2024
Short summary
Felipe L. L. Amorim, Julien Le Meur, Achim Wirth, and Vanessa Cardin
Felipe L. L. Amorim, Julien Le Meur, Achim Wirth, and Vanessa Cardin

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Short summary
Analysis of a high-frequency time series of thermohaline data measured at the EMSO-E2M3A Regional Facility in the Southern Adriatic Pit (SAP) reveals a significant change in the double-diffusive regime in 2017 associated with the intrusion of extremely salty waters into the area, suggesting salt fingering as the dominant regime. The strong heat loss at the surface during this winter allowed deep convection to transport this high salinity water from the intermediate to the deep layers of the pit.