Station Data in the North Western Coastal Area of Malta

Aldo F. Drago

Abstract

CTD casts collected in August 1992, represent the first set of near-synoptic station data in the coastal waters of the Maltese Islands. Horizontal gradients in temperature, salinity and density confirm the effect of topography on residual flows. The vertical structure of Summer water column is analysed with the Turner angle Tu, density ratio Rp and the Brunt Vaisala frequency as diagnostics. Very sharp salinity reversals exist in the subsurface layer. A stepwise micro-structure related to salt fingering activity characterises the T,S profiles.