Short-term variability of the Mediterranean in- and out-flows

A re-analysis of CTD profiles collected in the Strait of Gibraltar during the 1985-1986 Gibraltar Experiment shows that a large variability can occur, within a 10-day interval, in the nature of the Atlantic Water found in the sill surroundings and expected to flow into the Mediterranean Sea, and in the set of Mediterranean Waters outflowing from the sea. Since both strongly mix together within the strait, the outflow in the Atlantic Ocean can display a tremendous short-term variability mainly due to the variability of the inflow. Specifying any nominal characteristic for the outflow all its way downstream, a fortiori any nominal characteristic for the various veins into which it is split, thus needs monitoring the whole water column within the strait.