Circulation and heat exchanges of the Northern Adriatic in the winter season 1992/93

Summary

The sea currents, temperature and conductivity were measured continuously at two stations and two depths of the eastern part of the Northern Adriatic during the winter season 1992/93. Meteorological elements were measured simultaneously at the two nearest meteorological stations on the Croatian coast (Rovinj, Pula). The sea level was also measured in that period at Rovinj. One severe bora storm was observed in the period of measurements. Qualitative good agreement between observed currents and velocities of the earlier developed models for the response of the Northern Adriatic to the bora and sirocco wind forcing has been shown. The sea currents on the Rovinj-Po transect are of the opposite direction to the bora wind because of tis spatial heterogeneity. The sea level observed at Rovinj station rose during the bora blows and it was much higher than what expected in the developed models. The response time of the currents to the bora forcing is computed by using correlation function between currents and wind. The heat exchanges on the sea-atmosphere surface are calculated. The correlation between same wind components and between total heat exchanges for two different stations was made. The sea temperature evolution calculated from meteorological data agrees well with what observed, especially for the Pula station. At the end of the measurement period the new dense water (σ_t=29.3 kg m⁻) was observed.