The anatomy of recent large sea level fluctuations in the Mediterranean Sea

During the boreal winter months of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, Mediterranean mean sea level rose 10 cm above the average monthly climatological values. The non‐seasonal anomalies were observed in sea surface height (from altimetry), as well as ocean mass (from gravimetry), indicating they were mostly of barotropic nature. These relatively rapid basin‐wide fluctuations occurred over time scales of 1–5 months. Here we use observations and re‐analysis data to attribute the non‐seasonal sea level and ocean mass fluctuations in the Mediterranean Sea to concurrent wind stress anomalies over the adjacent subtropical Northeast Atlantic Ocean, just west of the Strait of Gibraltar, and extending into the strait itself. The observed Mediterranean sea level fluctuations are strongly anti‐correlated with the monthly North‐Atlantic‐Oscillation (NAO) index. Key Points Mediterranean sea level rose approximately 10 cm above climatology in January and December 2010 Sea level changes were barotropic, observed with altimetry and gravimetry Forced by Wind stress near Strait of Gibraltar, anti‐correlated to NAO