Coastal oceanographic signatures of heat waves and extreme events of dense water formation during the period 2002-2012 (Barcelona, NW Mediterranean)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04766.26A

Keywords:

coastal monitoring, decadal variability, water density, turbidity, fluorescence, extreme events

Abstract


In a global context of climate change affecting the marine environment, it is important to consider the effect of extreme events in driving ecological change and to gain a better understanding of conditions to be expected under future scenarios. In this study we focus on monthly oceanographic data collected off Barcelona city during the period 2002-2012, in which extreme air temperatures and exceptional oceanographic events were reported in the western Mediterranean basin. These included two extreme heat waves and major episodes of dense water formation that produced unusually large deep-water contributions, induced oceanographic changes in the coastal zone and caused significant alterations to the marine ecosystem. To determine whether routine monitoring of oceanographic variables in a coastal zone can provide information for recognizing such large-scale events, temperature, salinity, turbidity and fluorescence were analysed to identify their signatures. The results provide an additional tool for monitoring oceanographic events and improving forecasts and future projections.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Arin L., Guillén J., Segura-Noguera M., et al. 2013. Open sea hydrographic forcing of nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in a Mediterranean coastal system. Estuar. Coast Shelf Sci. 133: 116-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2013.08.018

Brander K.M. 2013. Climate and current anthropogenic impacts on fisheries. Clim. Chang. 119: 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0541-2

Brochier T., Echevin V., Tam J., et al. 2013. Climate change scenarios experiments predict a future reduction in small pelagic fish recruitment in the Humboldt current system. Global Chang. Biol. 19: 1841–1853. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12184 PMid:23554213

Calvo E., Simó R., Coma R., et al. 2011. Effects of climate change on Mediterranean marine ecosystems: the case of the Catalan Sea. Clim. Res. 50: 1-29. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01040

Canals M., Puig P., Durrieu de Madrou X., et al. 2006. Flushing submarine canyons. Nature 444: 354-357. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05271 PMid:17108962

Carniel S., Wolf J., Brando V.E., et al. 2017. Preface: Oceanographic processes on the continental shelf: observations and modelling. Ocean Sci. 13: 495-501. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-495-2017

Castellà M., Brunet M. 2011. Study of the heat wave of the summer 2003 at the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Tethys 8: 89-99. https://doi.org/10.3369/tethys.2011.8.09

CIESM 2002. Tracking long-term hydrological change in the Mediterranean Sea. In: Briand F. (ed.), CIESM Workshop Series 16, Monaco, 134 pp.

CIESM 2008. Towards an integrated system of Mediterranean marine observatories. In: Briand F. (ed.), CIESM Workshop Monographs, 34, Monaco, 144 pp.

Cheng P., Valle-Levinson A., Winant C.D., et al. 2010. Upwelling-enhanced seasonal stratification in a semiarid bay. Cont. Shelf Res. 30: 1241-1249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2010.03.015

Coma R., Ribes M., Serrano E., et al. 2009. Global warming-enhanced stratification and mass mortality events in the Mediterranean. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: 6176-6181. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0805801106 PMid:19332777 PMCid:PMC2669359

Company J.B., Puig P., Sardà F., et al. 2008. Climate Influence on Deep Sea Populations. PLoS ONE 3: e1431. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001431 PMid:18197243 PMCid:PMC2174526

Crisci C., Bensoussan N., Romano J.-C., et al. 2011. Temperature Anomalies and Mortality Events in Marine Communities: Insights on Factors behind Differential Mortality Impacts in the NW Mediterranean. PLoS ONE 6: e23814. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0023814 PMid:21931615 PMCid:PMC3171413

Dufau-Julliand C., Marsaleix P., Petrenko A., et al. 2004. Three-dimensional modeling of the Gulf of Lion's hydrodynamics (northwest Mediterranean) during January 1999 (MOOGLI3 Experiment) and late winter 1999: Western Mediterranean Intermediate Water's (WIW's) formation and its cascading over the shelf break. J. Geophys. Res. 109: C11002. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JC002019

Durrieu de Madron X., Zervakis V., Theocharis A., et al. 2005. Comments on "cascades of dense water around the World Ocean". Prog. Oceanogr. 64: 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2004.08.004

Durrieu de Madron X., Houpert L., Puig P., et al. 2013. Interaction of dense shelf water cascading and open-sea convection in the northwestern Mediterranean during winter 2012. Geophys. Res. Lett. 40: 1379-1385. https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50331

Estrada M. 1996. Primary production in the northwestern Mediterranean. Sci. Mar. 60: 55-64.

Estrada M., Álvarez E., Barragán A., et al. 2008. Reflexiones sobre la gestión y custodia de datos oceanográficos en Espa-a. Recursos existentes y recomendaciones para el futuro. (ID. PCI2005-A5-0141). SCOR, Comité Científico sobre Investigación Oceánica. Prog. Actividad SCOR en Espa-a. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, 42 pp.

Fernández de Puelles M.L., Molinero J.C. 2008. Decadal changes in hydrographic and ecological time-series in the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean), identifying links between climate and zooplankton. ICES J. Marine Sci. 65: 311-317. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsn017

Feudale L., Shukla J. 2011. Influence of sea surface temperature on the European heat wave of 2003 summer. Part I: an observational study Most European regions were subject to abnormally dry conditions in spring and particularly in summer of 2003. Clim. Dyn. 36: 1691-1703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-010-0788-0

Fieux M. 1974. Formation d'eau dense sur le plateau du golfe du Lion. Processus de formation des eaux profondes. Colloq. Int. CNRS 215: 165-174.

Font J. 1987. The path of the Levantine Intermediate Water to the Alboran Sea. Deep-Sea Res. 34: 1754-1755.

Font J., Salat J., Tintoré J. 1988. Permanent features of the circulation in the Catalan Sea. Oceanol. Acta S9: 51-57.

Font J., Puig P., Salat J., et al. 2007. Sequence of hydrographic changes in NW Mediterranean deep water due to the exceptional winter of 2005. Sci. Mar. 71: 339-346. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2007.71n2339

Garrabou J., Coma R., Bensoussan N., et al. 2009. Mass mortality in Northwestern Mediterranean rocky benthic communities: effects of the 2003 heat wave. Global Chang. Biol. 15: 1090-1103. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01823.x

Gori A., Orejas C., Madurell T., et al. 2013. Bathymetrical distribution and size structure of cold-water coral populations in the Cap de Creus and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons (northwestern Mediterranean). Biogeosciences 10: 2049-2060. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2049-2013

Graham W.M., Pagès F., Hamner W.M. 2001 A physical context for gelatinous zooplankton aggregations: a review. Hydrobiologia 451: 199-212. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011876004427

Guallar C., Flos J. 2017. Enhanced primary production in summer and winter-spring seasons in a populated NW Mediterranean coastal ecosystem. J. Sea Res. 120: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2016.10.009

Hobday A.J., Alexander L.V., Perkins S.E., et al. 2016. A hierarchical approach to defining marine heatwaves. Prog. Oceanogr. 141: 227-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2015.12.014

IOC, SCOR, IAPSO. 2010. The international thermodynamic equation of seawater – 2010: Calculation and use of thermodynamic properties. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Manuals and Guides No. 56, UNESCO, 196 pp.

Krahmann G., Schott F. 1998. Long-term increase in western Mediterranean salinities and temperatures: Anthropogenic and climatic sources, Geophys. Res. Lett. 25: 4209-4212. https://doi.org/10.1029/1998GL900143

Lacombe H., Tchernia P. 1971–1972. Le problème de la formation des aux marines profondes. Déroulement du phénomène en Méditerranée nord-occidentale par hiver très froid (Janvier-Mars 1963). Ann. Inst. Océanogr. 48: 75-110.

Lopez-Jurado J.L., González-Pola C., Vélez-Belchí P. 2005. Observation of an abrupt disruption of the long-term warming trend at the Balearic Sea, western Mediterranean Sea, in summer 2005. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32: L24606. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL024430

Luterbacher J., Dietrich D., Xoplaki E., et al. 2004. European seasonal and annual temperature variability, trends and extremes since 1500. Science 303: 1499-1503. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1093877 PMid:15001774

Luterbacher J., Liniger M.A., Menzel A., et al. 2007. Exceptional European warmth of autumn 2006 and winter 2007: Historical context, the underlying dynamics, and its phenological impacts, Geophys. Res. Lett. 34: L12704. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL029951

Magee M.R., Wu C.H. 2017. Response of water temperatures and stratification to changing climate in three lakes with different morphometry. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 21: 6253-6274. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-6253-2017

Marbà N., Duarte C. 2010. Mediterranean warming triggers seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) shoot mortality. Global Change Biol. 16: 2366-2375. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.02130.x

Martín J., Miquel J.-C., Khripounoff A. 2010. Impact of open sea deep convection on sediment remobilization in the western Mediterranean. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37: L13604. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL043704

Martin P., Maynou F., Recasens L., et al. 2016. Cyclic fluctuations of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) linked to open-sea convection processes in the northwestern Mediterranean. Fish. Oceanogr. 25: 229-240. https://doi.org/10.1111/fog.12147

Marty J.C., Chiavérini J. 2010. Hydrological changes in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean, DYFAMED site) during 1995–2007 and biogeochemical consequences. Biogeosciences 7: 2117-2128. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-2117-2010

Maynou F., Sabatés A., Salat J. 2014. Clues from the recent past to assess recruitment of Mediterranean small pelagic fishes under sea warming scenarios. Clim. Chang. 126: 175-188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1194-0

MEDOC Group. 1970. Observation of formation of deep water in the Mediterranean Sea, 1969. Nature 227: 1037-1040. https://doi.org/10.1038/2271037a0

Millot C. 1990. The Gulf of Lions' hydrodynamics. Cont. Shelf Res. 10: 885-894. https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(90)90065-T

Millot C. 2013. Levantine Intermediate Water characteristics: An astounding general misunderstanding. Sci. Mar. 77: 217-232. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.03518.13A

Navarro-Martín L., Vi-as J., Ribas L., et al. 2011. DNA Methylation of the Gonadal Aromatase (cyp19a) Promoter Is Involved in Temperature-Dependent Sex Ratio Shifts in the European Sea Bass. PLoS Genet. 7: e1002447. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1002447 PMid:22242011 PMCid:PMC3248465

Nunes S., Latasa M., Gasol J.M., et al. 2018. Seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton community structure in a Mediterranean coastal site. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 592: 57-75. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12493

Ojeda E., Guillén J. 2008. Shoreline dynamics and beach rotation of artificial embayed beaches. Mar. Geol. 253: 51-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2008.03.010

Orejas C., Gori A., Lo Iacono C., et al. 2009. Cold-water corals in the Cap de Creus canyon, north-western Mediterranean: spatial distribution, density and anthropogenic impact. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 397: 37-51. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08314

Palanques A., Puig P., Durrieu de Madron X., et al. 2012. Sediment transport to the deep canyons and open-slope of the western Gulf of Lions during the 2006 intense cascading and open-sea convection period. Prog. Oceanogr. 106: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2012.05.002

Puig P., Palanques A., Orange D.L., et al. 2008. Dense shelf water cascades and sedimentary furrow formation in the Cap de Creus Canyon, northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Cont. Shelf Res. 28: 2017-2030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2008.05.002

Puig P., Durrieu de Madron X., Salat J., et al. 2013. Thick bottom nepheloid layers in the western Mediterranean generated by deep dense shelf water cascading. Prog. Oceanogr. 111: 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2012.10.003

Rholing E.J., Bryden H. 1992. Man-induced salinity and temperature increases in western Mediterranean deep water. J. Geophys. Res. 97: 11191-11198. https://doi.org/10.1029/92JC00767

Ribó M., Puig P., Palanques A., et al. 2011. Dense shelf water cascades in the Cap de Creus and Palamós submarine canyons during winters 2007 and 2008. Mar. Geol. 284: 175-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2011.04.001

Romero E., Peters F., Arin L., et al. 2014. Decreased seasonality and high variability of coastal plankton dynamics in an urban location of the NW Mediterranean. J. Sea Res. 88: 130-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2014.01.010

Salat J., Font J. 1987. Water mass structure near and offshore the Catalan coast during the winter of 1982 and 1983. Ann. Geophys. 5: 49-54.

Salat J., Pascual J. 2002. The oceanographic and meteorological station at l'Estartit (NW Mediterranean). In: Briand F. (ed.). Tracking long-term hydrological change in the Mediterranean Sea. CIESM Workshop Series 16: 29-32. Monaco.

Salat J., Pascual J. 2006. Principales tendencias climatológicas en el Mediterráneo Noroccidental, a partir de más de 30 a-os de observaciones oceanográficas y meteorológicas en la costa catalana. In: Cuadrat Prats J.M., Saz Sánchez M.A., Vicente Serrano S.M., et al. (eds) Clima, sociedad y medio ambiente. Publicaciones de la Sociedad Espa-ola de Climatología, Zaragoza.

Salat J., García M., Cruzado A., et al. 2002. Seasonal changes of water mass structure and shelf slope exchanges at the Ebro shelf (NW Mediterranean). Cont. Shelf Res. 22: 327-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-4343(01)00031-0

Salat J., Emelianov M., Lopez-Jurado J.L. 2006. Unusual extension of Western Mediterranean deep water formation during winter 2005. In: Proceedings 5ª Asamblea Hispano-Portuguesa de Geodesia y Geofísica [CD-ROM]. Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.

Salat J., Emelianov M., Puig P. 2009. From Bottom Water (Lacombe, 1985) to New-WMDW since 2005. Possible shifts on Open Sea Deep Convection. CIESM Workshop Monographs 38: 41-49.

Sampedro N., Re-é A., Vila M., et al. 2008. Final Report 2004- 2007: Pla de vigilància de fitoplàncton nociu i tòxic a la costa catalana. (Convenio CV03000044,Agència Catalana de l'Aigua (ACA). Generalitat de Catalunya i Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CMIMA-CSIC).

Schlegel R.W., Oliver E.C.J., Wernberg T., et al. 2017. Nearshore and offshore co-occurrence of marine heatwaves. Prog. Oceanogr. 151: 189-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2017.01.004

Schroeder K., Ribotti A., Borghini M., et al. 2008. An extensive Western Mediterranean deep water renewal between 2004 and 2006. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35: L18605. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035146

Schroeder K., Millot C., Bengara L., et al. 2013. Long-term monitoring programme of the hydrological variability in the Mediterranean Sea: a first overview of the HYDROCHANGES network. Ocean Sci. 9: 301-324. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-9-301-2013

Siokou-Frangou I., Christaki U., Mazzocchi M.G., et al. 2010. Plankton in the open Mediterranean Sea: a review. Biogeosciences 7: 1543-1586. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-1543-2010

Somot S., Houpert L., Sevault F., et al. 2016. Characterizing, modelling and understanding the climate variability of the deep water formation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Clim. Dyn. 51: 1179-1210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-016-3295-0

Taviani M., Angeletti L., Beuck L., et al. 2016. On and off the beaten track: Megafaunal sessile life and Adriatic cascading processes. Mar. Geol. 375: 146-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2015.10.003

Tel E., Balbin R., Cabanas J.-M., et al. 2016. IEOOS: the Spanish Institute of Oceanography Observing System, Ocean Sci. 12: 345-353. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-345-2016

Tsimplis M.N., Baker T.F. 2000. Sea level drop in the Mediterranean Sea: An indicator of deep water salinity and temperature changes. Geophys. Res. Lett. 27: 1731-1734. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL007004

Ulses C., Estournel C., Puig P., et al. 2008. Dense water cascading in the northwestern Mediterranean during the cold winter 2005. Quantification of the export through the Gulf of Lion and the Catalan margin. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35: L07610. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL033257

Vargas-Yá-ez M., Salat J., Luz Fernández de Puelles M., et al. 2005. Trends and time variability in the northern continental shelf of the western Mediterranean. J. Geophys. Res. 110: C10019.

Vargas-Yá-ez M., García M.J., Salat J., et al. 2008. Warming trends and decadal variability in the Western Mediterranean shelf. Global Planet Chang. 63: 177-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.09.001

Vargas-Yá-ez M., Moya F., García-Martínez M.C., et al. 2010. Climate change in the Western Mediterranean Sea 1900-2008. J. Mar. Syst. 82: 171-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2010.04.013

Yentsch C.S., Menzel D.W. 1963. A method for the determination of phytoplankton chlorophyll and pheophytin by fluorescence. Deep-Sea Res. 10: 221-231.

Published

2018-12-30

How to Cite

1.
Guillén J, Arin L, Salat J, Puig P, Estrada M, Palanques A, Simarro G, Pascual J. Coastal oceanographic signatures of heat waves and extreme events of dense water formation during the period 2002-2012 (Barcelona, NW Mediterranean). Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2018Dec.30 [cited 2024Mar.19];82(4):189-206. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1780

Issue

Section

Featured Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 > >>