@article{fdi:010069423,
  title = {{M}odeling the intense 2012-2013 dense water formation event in the northwestern {M}editerranean {S}ea : evaluation with an ensemble simulation approach},
  author = {{W}aldman, {R}. and {S}omot, {S}. and {H}errmann, {M}arine and {B}osse, {A}. and {C}aniaux, {G}. and {E}stournel, {C}. and {H}oupert, {L}. and {P}rieur, {L}. and {S}evault, {F}. and {T}estor, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he northwestern {M}editerranean {S}ea is a well-observed ocean deep convection site. {W}inter 2012-2013 was an intense and intensely documented dense water formation ({DWF}) event. {W}e evaluate this {DWF} event in an ensemble configuration of the regional ocean model {NEMOMED}12. {W}e then assess for the first time the impact of ocean intrinsic variability on {DWF} with a novel perturbed initial state ensemble method. {F}inally, we identify the main physical mechanisms driving water mass transformations. {NEMOMED}12 reproduces accurately the deep convection chronology between late {J}anuary and {M}arch, its location off the {G}ulf of {L}ions although with a southward shift and its magnitude. {I}t fails to reproduce the {W}estern {M}editerranean {D}eep {W}aters salinification and warming, consistently with too strong a surface heat loss. {T}he {O}cean {I}ntrinsic {V}ariability modulates half of the {DWF} area, especially in the open-sea where the bathymetry slope is low. {I}t modulates marginally (3-5%) the integrated {DWF} rate, but its increase with time suggests its impact could be larger at interannual timescales. {W}e conclude that ensemble frameworks are necessary to evaluate accurately numerical simulations of {DWF}. {E}ach phase of {DWF} has distinct diapycnal and thermohaline regimes: during preconditioning, the {M}editerranean thermohaline circulation is driven by exchanges with the {A}lgerian basin. {D}uring the intense mixing phase, surface heat fluxes trigger deep convection and internal mixing largely determines the resulting deep water properties. {D}uring restratification, lateral exchanges and internal mixing are enhanced. {F}inally, isopycnal mixing was shown to play a large role in water mass transformations during the preconditioning and restratification phases.},
  keywords = {{MEDITERRANEE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch : {O}ceans},
  volume = {122},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {1297--1324},
  ISSN = {2169-9275},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1002/2016jc012437},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010069423},
}