Numerical Marine Dynamics Modeling of the Levantine and Cyprus sea

Abstract

Operational Oceanography is one of the most interesting branches of the science of Oceanography, relatively new and under rapid development during the last decades, with numerical modeling as one of the most important, fascinating and challenging products. A number of numerical models have been developed in order to anticipate the difficulties in gathering in-situ data and they are evolving continuously with the aid of the technological improvements in the fields of computers and of satellites. However, among the many required improvements there are two of great importance: • alternative numerical oceanographic, and specifically, marine dynamics simulations of the circulation of the eastern Mediterranean and particularly of the Levantine Sea. The expected advance with this kind of model is higher and more accurate details in the obtained results. While such a model has been adopted effectively in various places of the globe, it has never been applied over the specific area of Levantine so far. • data and numerical methods that should improve the satellite products, such sea surface height, temperature, salinity and chlorophyll-a. Application algorithms, like DINEOF, are used to eliminate missing data caused by cloud interference and thus to enrich the information that will drive the numerical models. This algorithm is applied for the first time to satellite data over the Eastern Mediterranean. This thesis attempts a presentation on the particular features that describe the devel- opment and implementation of a new marine dynamics numerical model. Initially there is a description of the general ocean circulation, with reference to mechanisms and related theories. Emphasis is given on the description of the basic physical principles and on the general wind generated and thermohaline circulation in the planet. A summary of the Mediterranean physiography and the prevailing opinions of the emerging circulation will be shown. Finally, reference is made to the effect of different meteorological conditions on submeso-scale phenomena, with particular reference to the eastern Mediterranean and Levantine region, focusing on the area around Cyprus.