Surface fluxes and thermohaline variability over the ADRICOSM polygon Pelje ac-Vis-Drvenik

Thermohaline properties in the east Adriatic coastal area were measured bi-weekly during the cold season of 2002/2003 and weekly in the warm season of 2003 at 14 stations. The collected data set has space and time coverage suitable for comparison with general thermohaline climatology of the region. Temporal salinity changes registered during the experiment show strong departures from the typical annual cycle in which salinity follows average surface water flux variability. Throughout the experiment, high salinity values were measured as a consequence of prolonged bora events in the cold period, and unusual spring-summer atmospheric conditions. Due to the anomalously long and strong heating season, corresponding surface temperatures were also higher than the long-term averages. Surface heat and water fluxes were calculated for the research period, and were compared with climatological values originating from meteorological stations in the ADRICOSM polygon.