Analysis of Mediterranean sea level from satellite altimetry and tidal data

Haddad, M; Belbachir, M. F; Kahlouche, S; Rami, A; Khelifa, S

Bulletin des sciences géographiques de l'INCT
Volume 14, Numéro 1, Pages 14-24
2010-09-01

Analysis Of Mediterranean Sea Level From Satellite Altimetry And Tidal Data

Authors : Haddad M . Belbachir M. F . Kahlouche S . Rami A . Khelifa S .

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the seasonal variability of Mediterranean Sea and its trends from time series of altimetric sea leve! and tidal mean sea leve! records. The altimetric time series analysis, from 1992 to 2009, shows that the amplitude of Mediterranean mean sea leve! changes is around 15 cm. lt decreases in January-February, reaches the minimum in March-April and the maximum is observed in October-November. The response delay of sea leve!to SST variations is about two months which corresponds to the time required for the temperature to diffuse from the surtàce to sea depths. The results of the monthly PSMSL RLR ti me series analysis show that the behavior of the seasonal variability of the Mediterranean Sea leve! decreases in the autumn and increases between spring and summer seasons. The lowest values occur in February or Marchand the highest values in October or November with an exception in the Aegean Sea, where the maximum value appears in August. The average of the mean Mediterranean Sea leve! trend obtained from tidal data is about 1.61 mm/year. This value is close to the average sea leve! trend obtained from altimetric data ( 1.32 mm/year).