Water masses and diagnostic circulation west off Sardinia from March 23rd to April 4th, 2001

The Sardinia Sea circulation was diagnostically simulated with a high eddy-resolving primitive equation numerical model based on the Princeton Ocean Model. In order to reproduce the mean flow from the observed density field, hydrological measurements were carried out during an oceanographic cruise, from 2 March to 4 April, 2001. Data were interpolated into a high-resolution grid by the Objective Analysis method. The numerical model was integrated in diagnostic mode. The analysis of the velocity fields showed the strong spatial variability connected to the MAW mean general circulation, LIW flowing northward along the shelf break and mesoscale features.