Oceanographic conditions in the Antalya Basin in water

Abstract

From an oceanographic survey of the Antalya Basin in February 1997 the following horizontal circulation pattern was found: The Asia Minor Current (AMC) was detached from the Turkish coast flowing to the southwest between 300 E and 330 E. The Cilician Current was present and feeding the AMC. The AMC exhibited meander wavelengths of about 100 km and phase speed circa 10 cm s-1. A

train of cyclonic eddies was located at the southern flank of the AMC. The central part of the Antalya

Basin was occupied by the Antalya Anticyclone extending at least over the upper 1000 dbar depth

range. A second anticyclone further west was identified as the Anaximander Anticyclone. From a

comparison with previous surveys it is concluded that the circulation of the Antalya Basin is controlled

by the Re position of the AMC. The circulation is cyclonic, if the AMC flow path is confined to the

coast and anticyclonic if the path is distant from coast. In the latter case the anticyclonic flow may

force the Cilician Current to reverse its direction. A nearly homogeneous pool of Levantine Surface

Water extending down from the sea surface to about 250 m depth was found trapped within the

Antalya Anticyclone. It is shown that even under light wind conditions, thermohaline convection down to about 200 m depth takes place in this pool. It is suggested that the convectively mixed water body is subject to further transformation by double diffusive mixing with the underlying water and finally contributes to the formation of Levantine Intermediate Water.