Heat storage characteristics in eastern Mediterranean Sea

Heat Storage in the ocean water (column and space) plays a main role in its dynamics. The historical hydrographic data is used to calculate the heat storage of eastern Mediterranean (10°E to 36°E and 30°N to 40°N) in the upper 100m and 300m layers. The results of monthly mean spatial distribution of heat storage, annual trend, and annual signal amplitude are presented in this study. For both layers, the maximum heat storage is located in the southern and southeastern part of eastern Mediterranean, while the minimum values are located in northern part. The maximum values of heat storage in the upper 100m and 300m layers are in the period of August-October (end of heating), while the minimum values are in the period of February-March (end of cooling), respectively. The signal amplitude value of heat storage for both layers is high at the southeast of Crete and moderate high at the south-southeast Rhodes Islands representing the convection zone in which the Levantine Intermediate water are formed and sink in winter season.