Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Ocean Science (OS).
Technical note: tidal motions in the deep Mediterranean
Hans van Haren
Abstract. The Mediterranean Sea is known for its limited tidal motions. For example, surface barotropic tidal elevations have an amplitude of 0.1 m in the Northwestern Mediterranean. Nevertheless, these small tides are noticeable in temperature records at the 2500-m deep seafloor, but only under near-homogeneous conditions when buoyancy frequency N < f, the inertial frequency. After transfer of pressure to temperature units via the local adiabatic lapse rate, the observed internal-wave temperature signals may thus be corrected for 1.5x10-5-°C amplitude semidiurnal barotropic tides. The remaining baroclinic tides are embedded in the broad and featureless inertio-gravity wave band, with some energy enhancement near its boundaries, also under tenfold-larger energetic stratified water conditions.
Received: 13 Jan 2026 – Discussion started: 29 Jan 2026
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The Mediterranean Sea is known for its limited tidal motions. For example, surface barotropic tidal elevations have an amplitude of 0.1 m in the Northwestern Mediterranean. As is demonstrated in this paper, such small tides are noticeable in temperature records at the 2500-m deep seafloor, but only under near-homogeneous conditions. After correcting for pressure effects, the observed internal-wave temperature signals may thus be corrected for 1.5x10-5-°C amplitude semidiurnal barotropic tides.
The Mediterranean Sea is known for its limited tidal motions. For example, surface barotropic...
