The Delta-O-18 signal of the northward flow of mediterranean waters in the adriatic sea
1995
Stenni, B | Nichetto, P | Bregant, D | Scarazzato, P | Longinelli, A
The sea-water masses in the Adriatic Sea are fairly well known as regards the classical parameters of salinity, temperature and density. By contrast, the distribution of the oxygen isotopic composition is practically unknown apart from a few isolated measurements. The delta(18)O values of about 600 water samples from vertical profiles in the Adriatic basin were measured to obtain information on the distribution of these values throughout the basin and, if possible, to correlate this variable to the movements and mixing of water masses. The salinity and temperature data are also reported here for a direct comparison of these variables to the isotopic values. Quite positive and homogeneous delta(18)O values, ranging from 1.30 to 1.69 parts per thousand (vs. V-SMOW), are found in the Southern Adriatic Sea because of the inflow of Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW). The northward flow of this water, despite the addition of large amounts of continental water, heavily depleted in O-18 (delta(18)O about -9/-10 parts per thousand), apparently reaches the north-eastern section of the basin, with bottom water still showing high delta(18)O values (up to 1.36 parts per thousand) as far north as the Gulf of Trieste. By contrast, the surface water of the Northern Adriatic Sea is almost systematically O-18 depleted with a minimum value of -1.49 parts per thousand measured during Spring 1998, clearly related to the inflow of continental water.
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