The Mediterranean Sea, an Evolving “Thermodynamic Machine”

Name: The ESSIC Seminar Series is on Winter Break!
Start: 2026-01-26
End: 2026-01-26

This event has passed. See the seminar recording here:

Prof. Ali Harzallah

National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, Tunisia

Thursday October 4, 2018, 12:00-1:00 PM

ESSIC Conference Room 4102, 5825 University Research Ct, College Park, MD 20740

Abstract:

The Mediterranean Sea acts as a miniature ocean; large scale phenomena are reproduced in this basin at a smaller scale. The reason is that the Mediterranean basin is almost closed which leads to very active three dimensional dynamics with circulation belts recalling those of the global ocean. The Mediterranean waters are connected to the open ocean only through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar. The Mediterranean Sea is often described as a “thermodynamic machine”. The key feature of the strong dynamics in this basin is its high rate of evaporation that induces a net water inflow from the Atlantic through the upper layers of the Strait of Gibraltar. In addition, the evaporation induces a loss of buoyancy which leads to a sink of surface waters (the salty and dense waters) to intermediate and deep layers. An opposite direction circulation is created: the relatively heavy waters formed in the intermediate and deep layers outflow through the Strait deeper section. Water trajectories and veins created and modified by Coriolis effects complete the three dimensional thermodynamic circulation. In some particular areas of the basin, as the Gulf of Lions, south of France, the very intense evaporation frequently occurring in the winter season induces a vertical mixing of a very large amount of water reaching the sea floor. This deep water formation is similar to deep water formation in the North Atlantic. Available observations reveal that the above described Mediterranean Sea evolution undergoes dramatic changes as a response to the global climate change. This seminar will present the work being done to better understand the present and past, and the future evolution of the Mediterranean Sea. Particular attention will be given to regional modeling research. The seminar will end with a description of marine energy production potential in the central area of the basin.

Bio-sketch:

Dr. Ali Harzallah, PhD from the University of Paris VI – Ecole Polytechnique, France on the hydrological cycle of the Mediterranean region. He is Professor, researcher in dynamics of the ocean and the atmosphere at the National Institute of Marine Science and Technology (INSTM), Tunisia. He is head of the Laboratory of Marine Environment at INSTM. He leads a modeling group of the sea and its interaction with the atmosphere. His research focuses on the numerical modeling of the Mediterranean dynamics, and the relative effects of the atmospheric and the eastern Atlantic Ocean conditions. He also investigated the role of the incoming tides from the Atlantic on the Mediterranean basin thermodynamical state. He is currently involved in a collaborative study with NOAA/CPC-EMC that aims to investigate the sea energy potential in the central Mediterranean area.

Host:

Dr. Augustin Vintzileos, avintzil@umd.edu, ESSIC

Webex Info:

Event number: 737 921 784
Event password: essic
——————————————————-
To join the online event
——————————————————-
1. Click here to join the online event.
Or copy and paste the following link to a browser:
https://umd.webex.com/umd/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb356b4f3402221271c32894ad1df2654
2. Click “Join Now”.
——————————————————-
To join the audio conference only
——————————————————-
US Toll: +1-415-655-0002
Global call-in numbers: https://umd.webex.com/umd/globalcallin.php?serviceType=EC&ED=668514292&tollFree=0
Access code: 737 921 784
——————————————————-
For IT assistance
——————————————————-
You can contact Travis Swaim at tswaim1@umd.edu