Aims One of the outstanding challenges facing humankind is increas-ing crop production under various types of severe environmental conditions.Many measures have been taken to adopt molecular and biotechnological appro...Aims One of the outstanding challenges facing humankind is increas-ing crop production under various types of severe environmental conditions.Many measures have been taken to adopt molecular and biotechnological approaches that lead to the development of transgenic plants able to deal with such harsh and polluted envi-ronments.However,such solutions could be very expensive and require considerable efforts and time to achieve these objectives.The main objective of this review is to discuss the new biological solutions that have emerged in the last decade,as environmentally friendly approaches,perhaps to support and/or replace the present efforts.These solutions based on plant-microbe interactions could be a lifeline and promising alternative strategy to create plants with a high resistance to the extreme environments.Methods During the last two decades research projects have been conducted to study the ecology,identify the features,and the ecophysiology of native plants and the associated microorganisms in the Arabian Gulf region and particularly in Qatar.Many physiological and bio-chemical parameters have been determined,including organic sol-utes(amino acids like proline,glycinebetaine,soluble sugars,etc.),photosynthetic pigments,organic acids and inorganic ions espe-cially heavy metals,along with the physical and chemical proper-ties of the soil in various locations of the State of Qatar.Also,the microorganisms adjacent to and associated with these native plants were identified to elucidate the possible roles in the soil biota in supporting these plants against extreme environmental conditions.Important Findings Investigations of native plants in the Arabian Gulf states during the last decade have shown that wild plants exhibit different abili-ties to accumulate organic solutes to cope with the harsh natural environments.Pollution is a major factor stressing wildlife in this region due to the expansion of urban sectors and industrial activi-ties of oil and gas.Compatible osmolytes,like proline,accumu-late in wild plants in response to severe environmental conditions and heavy metal contaminated soil.Accumulation of these solutes in plant tissues could provide some level of adaptation and resist-ance against all these types of environmental stresses.We present some promising efforts in the Arabian Gulf region to remediate desert soil and water polluted with heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.Substantial evidence is introduced about the roles of microorganisms associated with wild plants in natural habitats,such association may help them cope with the extreme stresses.Possible mechanisms adopted by microorganisms in alleviating the harsh abiotic stresses facing the wild life are discussed,one of which is the promotion of biosynthesis and transport of organic solutes to the plants.Also,the main possibilities of the origin of activities of the accumulation of compatible organic solutes are suggested and the objectives of the future research are discussed.展开更多
The pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in fine particles(PM_(2.5))in spring were studied in the Beibu Gulf Region of China,68 samples of PM_(2.5)were collected at Weizhou Island in Beihai City from Mar...The pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in fine particles(PM_(2.5))in spring were studied in the Beibu Gulf Region of China,68 samples of PM_(2.5)were collected at Weizhou Island in Beihai City from March 12 to April 17,2015.The Anionic Surfactant Substances(ASS)and Cationic Surfactant Substances(CSS)in the samples were analyzed using Byethyl Violet Spectrophotometry and Disulfide Blue Spectrophotometry,respectively.Combined with the data from backward trajectory simulation,the effects of air pollutants from remote transport on the pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in PM_(2.5)in the Beibu Gulf Region were analyzed and discussed.The results showed that the daily mean concentrations of ASS and CSS in spring in the Beibu Gulf Region were 165.20 pmol/m^(3)and 8.05 pmol/m^(3),and the variation ranges were 23.21–452.55 pmol/m^(3)and 0.65–31.31 pmol/m^(3),accounting for 1.82‰±1.65‰and 0.12‰±0.11‰of the mass concentration of PM_(2.5),respectively.These concentrations were lower than those in comparable regions around the world.There was no clear correlation between the concentrations of ASS and CSS in PM_(2.5)and the mass concentrations of PM_(2.5).Tourism and air transport had a positive contribution on the concentrations of ASS.The concentration of surfactant substances in PM_(2.5)was significantly impacted by wind speed and wind direction.Atmospheric temperature,air pressure and precipitation had little effect on the concentrations of surfactant substances.Surfactant substances in PM_(2.5)significantly impacted visibility.Results also showed that the main sources of surfactant substances were from the southern China and Southeast Asia.展开更多
The Gulf cooperation has gained new momentum after the end of the Cold War. However, it also faces various developing difficulties, including the low level of regional institutional cooperation and integration. The re...The Gulf cooperation has gained new momentum after the end of the Cold War. However, it also faces various developing difficulties, including the low level of regional institutional cooperation and integration. The regional context of the regional cooperation in the Gulf region is composed by regional security, energy factors and monarchy form of government, in which regional security is the primary motivation which makes it possible for the co-existence in competition of two tendencies in this region: integration and division. The energy element is the most important reason for external powers’ involvement in the region as well as an important part in regional cooperation in the Gulf region. The monarchy is the key point to understand the relationship between the GCC and Iran and the geographical spillover of the GCC. These factors jointly shape the regional cooperation in the Gulf region.展开更多
The Gulf region is in unique geo-political position.The relationship between China and the Gulf region is deeply impacted by the international system and regional patterns,as well as the adjustments of China’s own di...The Gulf region is in unique geo-political position.The relationship between China and the Gulf region is deeply impacted by the international system and regional patterns,as well as the adjustments of China’s own diplomatic strategies.This article tries to analyze the historical evolution of the relationship between China and the Gulf Region from these three perspectives.At present,this study is very important for China to rightly understand the strategic environment of the“One Belt and one Road”constructions in the Gulf Region.In the period of Cold War,the relationship between China and the Gulf region is deeply affected by the Cold War system,which can be proved by the fact during that time,China’s policies toward the Gulf region depended on the relationship between China and the US and the Soviet Union.Changes in regional patterns in the Gulf Region and China’s own strategic adjustments also have influence on China’s policies toward the Gulf.After the end of the Cold War,many factors,including the changes in the international system,changes in the situation of the Gulf region and the adjustments of China’s development and diplomatic strategies,had influenced the relationship between China and the Gulf.However,in this period,the mutual interdependence between China and the Gulf,and the impact of the adjustments of China’s diplomatic strategies on China’s Gulf policies are increasing.In the future,jointly building the“One Belt and One Road”initiative will be the mainstream of the cooperation between China and the Gulf countries.展开更多
The European Union(EU)and its core member states are active participants and stakeholders in the security affairs of the Gulf region.European maritime security is not only an important extension of European security i...The European Union(EU)and its core member states are active participants and stakeholders in the security affairs of the Gulf region.European maritime security is not only an important extension of European security in geospatial and functional areas,but also an indispensable part of Europe’s overall security strategy.However,the attention to the EU’s maritime security was distracted before 2010,while the concern for European maritime security and the Gulf region was limited to safe transit routes through the international straits and archipelagic waters of the Gulf region.With the tension in Gulf was increased by oil tanker attacks,the role of EU and its core member states as major stakeholders in Gulf maritime security affairs has been more and more important.展开更多
In the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent landmasses,faults are very complex,and their distribution is closely related to plate tectonics,ocean-land boundary,and former structure.The plane position of the faults can be ident...In the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent landmasses,faults are very complex,and their distribution is closely related to plate tectonics,ocean-land boundary,and former structure.The plane position of the faults can be identified by the maximum characteristic of the vertical derivative of the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative(NVDR-THDR)of the Bouguer gravity anomaly.The apparent depth of the faults is inverted by the Bouguer gravity anomaly curvature property.Based on tectonic evolutionary processes and the plane distribution and apparent depth characteristics of the faults,a complete fault system for the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent areas has been established,including 102 faults.The apparent depths of 33 first-class faults are 16-20 km and for 69 second-class faults are 12-16 km.The F_(1-2)and F_(1-3)subduction fault zones are two caused by the subduction of the Cocos Plate into the old Yucatan and Chorti landmasses;F_(1-11)and F_(1-12)fault zones extend westward to the coast of Guatemala and do not extend into the continent;F_(1-17)and F_(1-20)faults,which control the boundary of the oceanic crust,do not extend southward into the continent.The fault system,which radiates in a"fan-shaped"structure as a whole,unfolds to the northeast.Faults of different nature and sizes are distributed in the Cocos Plate subduction zone,Continental,Gulf of Mexico,Yucatan old landmass and Caribbean Plate in NW,NNW,NS,NE and NEE directions.In the Gulf of Mexico region,the fault system is a comprehensive reflection of former tectonic movements,such as plate movement,drift of old landmasses and expansion of oceanic crusts.The first-class faults control the plate and ocean-continental boundaries.The second-class faults are subordinate to the first-class faults or related to the distribution of different sedimentary layers.展开更多
Since its military occupation of Iraq,the U.S.has been obsessed with its Gulf strategy time and again,and is being challenged by the worsening and spreading crises in the Middle East.Strategically,the Bush administrat...Since its military occupation of Iraq,the U.S.has been obsessed with its Gulf strategy time and again,and is being challenged by the worsening and spreading crises in the Middle East.Strategically,the Bush administration and possibly its successor,troubled by the Iraq quagmire and Iranian nuclear issue,might have the strategic options including adhering to“dominant and preventive actions,”adopting“collapse prevention,”resuming“stability,deterrence and containment,”and anticipating“cooperative order.”However,the U.S.should either shun the hegemonic strategy in the Gulf and readjust its strategic objectives,or stay in the predicament in the region.展开更多
Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone has taken the initiative to explore how to promote public administration of interregional local governments and achieved some success in recent years. However, there are still many pro...Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone has taken the initiative to explore how to promote public administration of interregional local governments and achieved some success in recent years. However, there are still many problems as follows: the cooperation never goes deep;the cooperative governance is devoid of necessary system guarantee and information exchange and share platform. We analyse the status quo of cooperation in regional intergovernmental public administration as follows: it integrates the hierarchy power of government; it sponsors the forum for strengthening public administration and deepening cooperation in Beibu Gulf Economic Zone; it accelerates regional transportation system building; it sets up public administration institution; it quickens the pace of innovation of management and system in Beibu Gulf Economic Zone. Finally we put forward the path to construction of regional government cooperative governance so as to promote sustainable regional development as follows: construct the composite regional administrative cooperative governance model; construct the regional administrative network organization governance model; construct regional administrative special-project-based intergovernmental cooperative governance model; construct long-term flexible regional administrative cooperative mechanism.展开更多
Water circulation and sediment transport in the Beibu Gulf are important for its environmental protection and resource exploitation.By employing the Regional Ocean Modeling System（ROMS）,we studied the seasonal varia...Water circulation and sediment transport in the Beibu Gulf are important for its environmental protection and resource exploitation.By employing the Regional Ocean Modeling System（ROMS）,we studied the seasonal variation of circulation,sediment transport and long-term morphological evolution in the Beibu Gulf.The simulation results show that the circulation induced by tide and wind is cyclonic both in winter and summer in the gulf and that the wind-driven circulation is stronger in winter than that in summer.The sediment concentration is higher in the Qiongzhou Strait,west of the Hainan Island and the coast of Vietnam and the Leizhou Peninsula.The sediment is transported westwards in winter and eastwards in summer in the Qiongzhou Strait.The west entrance of the Qiongzhou Strait is dominated by westward transport all the year round.The sediment discharged by rivers is deposited near the river mouths.The simulated result demonstrates that the sediment transport is mainly controlled by tidal induced bottom resuspension in the Beibu Gulf.Four characteristics are summarized for the distribution patterns of erosion and deposition.（1） The erosion and deposition are insignificant in most area of the gulf.（2） Sediment deposition is more significant in the mouths of Qiongzhou Strait.（3） The erosion is observed in the seabed of Qiongzhou Strait.（4） Erosion and deposition occur alternatively in the west of Hainan Island.展开更多
Hydrological and LADCP data from four experiments at sea (Semane 1999, 2000/1 2000/3, 2001) are used to describe the structure and circulation of Mediterranean Water in the Gulf of Cadiz. These data were gathered on m...Hydrological and LADCP data from four experiments at sea (Semane 1999, 2000/1 2000/3, 2001) are used to describe the structure and circulation of Mediterranean Water in the Gulf of Cadiz. These data were gathered on meridional sections along 8?20′W and 6?15′W and between these longitudes on a zonal section along 35?50′N. The mesoscale and the submesoscale structures (Mediterranean Water Undercurrents, meddies, cyclones) observed along these sections are characterized in terms of thermohaline properties and of velocity. The transports of mass and salt in each class of density (North Atlantic Central Water, Mediterranean Water, North Atlantic Deep Water) are computed with an inverse model. The model indicates a general eastward flux in the Central Water layer, and a westward flux in the Mediterranean Water layer, but there is also a horizontal recirculation and entrainment in these two layers, as well as strong transports associated with the meddy and cyclone found during Semane 1999.展开更多
文摘Aims One of the outstanding challenges facing humankind is increas-ing crop production under various types of severe environmental conditions.Many measures have been taken to adopt molecular and biotechnological approaches that lead to the development of transgenic plants able to deal with such harsh and polluted envi-ronments.However,such solutions could be very expensive and require considerable efforts and time to achieve these objectives.The main objective of this review is to discuss the new biological solutions that have emerged in the last decade,as environmentally friendly approaches,perhaps to support and/or replace the present efforts.These solutions based on plant-microbe interactions could be a lifeline and promising alternative strategy to create plants with a high resistance to the extreme environments.Methods During the last two decades research projects have been conducted to study the ecology,identify the features,and the ecophysiology of native plants and the associated microorganisms in the Arabian Gulf region and particularly in Qatar.Many physiological and bio-chemical parameters have been determined,including organic sol-utes(amino acids like proline,glycinebetaine,soluble sugars,etc.),photosynthetic pigments,organic acids and inorganic ions espe-cially heavy metals,along with the physical and chemical proper-ties of the soil in various locations of the State of Qatar.Also,the microorganisms adjacent to and associated with these native plants were identified to elucidate the possible roles in the soil biota in supporting these plants against extreme environmental conditions.Important Findings Investigations of native plants in the Arabian Gulf states during the last decade have shown that wild plants exhibit different abili-ties to accumulate organic solutes to cope with the harsh natural environments.Pollution is a major factor stressing wildlife in this region due to the expansion of urban sectors and industrial activi-ties of oil and gas.Compatible osmolytes,like proline,accumu-late in wild plants in response to severe environmental conditions and heavy metal contaminated soil.Accumulation of these solutes in plant tissues could provide some level of adaptation and resist-ance against all these types of environmental stresses.We present some promising efforts in the Arabian Gulf region to remediate desert soil and water polluted with heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.Substantial evidence is introduced about the roles of microorganisms associated with wild plants in natural habitats,such association may help them cope with the extreme stresses.Possible mechanisms adopted by microorganisms in alleviating the harsh abiotic stresses facing the wild life are discussed,one of which is the promotion of biosynthesis and transport of organic solutes to the plants.Also,the main possibilities of the origin of activities of the accumulation of compatible organic solutes are suggested and the objectives of the future research are discussed.
基金supported by the Project of Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.4117511121177078)the Project of Environmental Protection Public Science and Technology Research Fund(No.201309016)。
文摘The pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in fine particles(PM_(2.5))in spring were studied in the Beibu Gulf Region of China,68 samples of PM_(2.5)were collected at Weizhou Island in Beihai City from March 12 to April 17,2015.The Anionic Surfactant Substances(ASS)and Cationic Surfactant Substances(CSS)in the samples were analyzed using Byethyl Violet Spectrophotometry and Disulfide Blue Spectrophotometry,respectively.Combined with the data from backward trajectory simulation,the effects of air pollutants from remote transport on the pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in PM_(2.5)in the Beibu Gulf Region were analyzed and discussed.The results showed that the daily mean concentrations of ASS and CSS in spring in the Beibu Gulf Region were 165.20 pmol/m^(3)and 8.05 pmol/m^(3),and the variation ranges were 23.21–452.55 pmol/m^(3)and 0.65–31.31 pmol/m^(3),accounting for 1.82‰±1.65‰and 0.12‰±0.11‰of the mass concentration of PM_(2.5),respectively.These concentrations were lower than those in comparable regions around the world.There was no clear correlation between the concentrations of ASS and CSS in PM_(2.5)and the mass concentrations of PM_(2.5).Tourism and air transport had a positive contribution on the concentrations of ASS.The concentration of surfactant substances in PM_(2.5)was significantly impacted by wind speed and wind direction.Atmospheric temperature,air pressure and precipitation had little effect on the concentrations of surfactant substances.Surfactant substances in PM_(2.5)significantly impacted visibility.Results also showed that the main sources of surfactant substances were from the southern China and Southeast Asia.
基金This article is financed by key research projects of China’s Education Ministry(08JZD0039),National Social Sciences Foundation of China(13CZJ017)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2013T60402&2012M520795)+1 种基金Chinese Ministry of Education Research(KA159225)Shanghai’s Key Academic Discipline。
文摘The Gulf cooperation has gained new momentum after the end of the Cold War. However, it also faces various developing difficulties, including the low level of regional institutional cooperation and integration. The regional context of the regional cooperation in the Gulf region is composed by regional security, energy factors and monarchy form of government, in which regional security is the primary motivation which makes it possible for the co-existence in competition of two tendencies in this region: integration and division. The energy element is the most important reason for external powers’ involvement in the region as well as an important part in regional cooperation in the Gulf region. The monarchy is the key point to understand the relationship between the GCC and Iran and the geographical spillover of the GCC. These factors jointly shape the regional cooperation in the Gulf region.
基金the“Islamic Factors in Contemporary International Relations of the Middle East Studies”project in 2008 supported by the MOE Project of Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences in Universities(08JJDGJW256)Shanghai Philosophy and Social Science project“Theory and Case Study of Chinese Diplomacy”(2010BGJ002)in 2010.
文摘The Gulf region is in unique geo-political position.The relationship between China and the Gulf region is deeply impacted by the international system and regional patterns,as well as the adjustments of China’s own diplomatic strategies.This article tries to analyze the historical evolution of the relationship between China and the Gulf Region from these three perspectives.At present,this study is very important for China to rightly understand the strategic environment of the“One Belt and one Road”constructions in the Gulf Region.In the period of Cold War,the relationship between China and the Gulf region is deeply affected by the Cold War system,which can be proved by the fact during that time,China’s policies toward the Gulf region depended on the relationship between China and the US and the Soviet Union.Changes in regional patterns in the Gulf Region and China’s own strategic adjustments also have influence on China’s policies toward the Gulf.After the end of the Cold War,many factors,including the changes in the international system,changes in the situation of the Gulf region and the adjustments of China’s development and diplomatic strategies,had influenced the relationship between China and the Gulf.However,in this period,the mutual interdependence between China and the Gulf,and the impact of the adjustments of China’s diplomatic strategies on China’s Gulf policies are increasing.In the future,jointly building the“One Belt and One Road”initiative will be the mainstream of the cooperation between China and the Gulf countries.
文摘The European Union(EU)and its core member states are active participants and stakeholders in the security affairs of the Gulf region.European maritime security is not only an important extension of European security in geospatial and functional areas,but also an indispensable part of Europe’s overall security strategy.However,the attention to the EU’s maritime security was distracted before 2010,while the concern for European maritime security and the Gulf region was limited to safe transit routes through the international straits and archipelagic waters of the Gulf region.With the tension in Gulf was increased by oil tanker attacks,the role of EU and its core member states as major stakeholders in Gulf maritime security affairs has been more and more important.
基金granted by the National Science and Technology Major Project of China(Grant No.2017ZX05032-003)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFC0602202)。
文摘In the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent landmasses,faults are very complex,and their distribution is closely related to plate tectonics,ocean-land boundary,and former structure.The plane position of the faults can be identified by the maximum characteristic of the vertical derivative of the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative(NVDR-THDR)of the Bouguer gravity anomaly.The apparent depth of the faults is inverted by the Bouguer gravity anomaly curvature property.Based on tectonic evolutionary processes and the plane distribution and apparent depth characteristics of the faults,a complete fault system for the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent areas has been established,including 102 faults.The apparent depths of 33 first-class faults are 16-20 km and for 69 second-class faults are 12-16 km.The F_(1-2)and F_(1-3)subduction fault zones are two caused by the subduction of the Cocos Plate into the old Yucatan and Chorti landmasses;F_(1-11)and F_(1-12)fault zones extend westward to the coast of Guatemala and do not extend into the continent;F_(1-17)and F_(1-20)faults,which control the boundary of the oceanic crust,do not extend southward into the continent.The fault system,which radiates in a"fan-shaped"structure as a whole,unfolds to the northeast.Faults of different nature and sizes are distributed in the Cocos Plate subduction zone,Continental,Gulf of Mexico,Yucatan old landmass and Caribbean Plate in NW,NNW,NS,NE and NEE directions.In the Gulf of Mexico region,the fault system is a comprehensive reflection of former tectonic movements,such as plate movement,drift of old landmasses and expansion of oceanic crusts.The first-class faults control the plate and ocean-continental boundaries.The second-class faults are subordinate to the first-class faults or related to the distribution of different sedimentary layers.
文摘Since its military occupation of Iraq,the U.S.has been obsessed with its Gulf strategy time and again,and is being challenged by the worsening and spreading crises in the Middle East.Strategically,the Bush administration and possibly its successor,troubled by the Iraq quagmire and Iranian nuclear issue,might have the strategic options including adhering to“dominant and preventive actions,”adopting“collapse prevention,”resuming“stability,deterrence and containment,”and anticipating“cooperative order.”However,the U.S.should either shun the hegemonic strategy in the Gulf and readjust its strategic objectives,or stay in the predicament in the region.
基金Supported by Guangxi Department of Education Project (201106LX315)
文摘Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone has taken the initiative to explore how to promote public administration of interregional local governments and achieved some success in recent years. However, there are still many problems as follows: the cooperation never goes deep;the cooperative governance is devoid of necessary system guarantee and information exchange and share platform. We analyse the status quo of cooperation in regional intergovernmental public administration as follows: it integrates the hierarchy power of government; it sponsors the forum for strengthening public administration and deepening cooperation in Beibu Gulf Economic Zone; it accelerates regional transportation system building; it sets up public administration institution; it quickens the pace of innovation of management and system in Beibu Gulf Economic Zone. Finally we put forward the path to construction of regional government cooperative governance so as to promote sustainable regional development as follows: construct the composite regional administrative cooperative governance model; construct the regional administrative network organization governance model; construct regional administrative special-project-based intergovernmental cooperative governance model; construct long-term flexible regional administrative cooperative mechanism.
基金The part of the Sino-Germany Cooperative Project supported by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Surveythe National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41625021+1 种基金the Ocean Special Funds for Scientific Research on Public Causes under contract No.201105001-2the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China Technology Development Project under contract No.1212010914027-01
文摘Water circulation and sediment transport in the Beibu Gulf are important for its environmental protection and resource exploitation.By employing the Regional Ocean Modeling System（ROMS）,we studied the seasonal variation of circulation,sediment transport and long-term morphological evolution in the Beibu Gulf.The simulation results show that the circulation induced by tide and wind is cyclonic both in winter and summer in the gulf and that the wind-driven circulation is stronger in winter than that in summer.The sediment concentration is higher in the Qiongzhou Strait,west of the Hainan Island and the coast of Vietnam and the Leizhou Peninsula.The sediment is transported westwards in winter and eastwards in summer in the Qiongzhou Strait.The west entrance of the Qiongzhou Strait is dominated by westward transport all the year round.The sediment discharged by rivers is deposited near the river mouths.The simulated result demonstrates that the sediment transport is mainly controlled by tidal induced bottom resuspension in the Beibu Gulf.Four characteristics are summarized for the distribution patterns of erosion and deposition.（1） The erosion and deposition are insignificant in most area of the gulf.（2） Sediment deposition is more significant in the mouths of Qiongzhou Strait.（3） The erosion is observed in the seabed of Qiongzhou Strait.（4） Erosion and deposition occur alternatively in the west of Hainan Island.
文摘Hydrological and LADCP data from four experiments at sea (Semane 1999, 2000/1 2000/3, 2001) are used to describe the structure and circulation of Mediterranean Water in the Gulf of Cadiz. These data were gathered on meridional sections along 8?20′W and 6?15′W and between these longitudes on a zonal section along 35?50′N. The mesoscale and the submesoscale structures (Mediterranean Water Undercurrents, meddies, cyclones) observed along these sections are characterized in terms of thermohaline properties and of velocity. The transports of mass and salt in each class of density (North Atlantic Central Water, Mediterranean Water, North Atlantic Deep Water) are computed with an inverse model. The model indicates a general eastward flux in the Central Water layer, and a westward flux in the Mediterranean Water layer, but there is also a horizontal recirculation and entrainment in these two layers, as well as strong transports associated with the meddy and cyclone found during Semane 1999.
