Béthoux, J. P., Gentili, B., Raunet, J., and Tailliez, D.: Warming trend in the western Mediterranean Deep Water, Nature, 347, 660–662, https://doi.org/10.1038/347660a0, 1990. a, b

Boehme, L. and Send, U.: Objective analyses of hydrographic data for referencing profiling float salinities in highly variable environments, Deep-Sea Res. Pt. II, 52, 651–664, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2004.12.014, 2005. a

Borghini, M., Durante, S., Ribotti, A., Schroeder, K., and Sparnocchia, S.: Thermohaline Staircases in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Experimental data-set (2003–2016), SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/58697, 2019. a, b, c

Bosse, A., Testor, P., Mortier, L., Prieur, L., Taillandier, V., d'Ortenzio, F., and Coppola, L.: Spreading of Levantine Intermediate Waters by submesoscale coherent vortices in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea as observed with gliders, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 120, 1599–1622, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JC010263, 2015. a, b

Brankart, J.-M. and Pinardi, N.: Abrupt Cooling of the Mediterranean Levantine Intermediate Water at the Beginning of the 1980s: Observational Evidence and Model Simulation, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 31, 2307–2320, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(2001)031<2307:acotml>2.0.co;2, 2001. a

Bryden, H. and Kinder, T. H.: Steady two-layer exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar, Deep-Sea Res., 38, S445– S463, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0198-0149(12)80020-3, 1991. a

Bryden, H., Candela, J., and Kinder, T. H.: Exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar, Prog. Oceanogr., 33, 201–248, https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6611(94)90028-0, 1994. a

Conkright, M. E., Antonov, J. I., Baranova, O., Boyer, T. P., Garcia, H. E., Gelfeld, R., Johnson, D., Locarnini, R. A., Murphy, P. P., O'Brien, T. D., Smolyar, I., and Stephens, C.: World Ocean Database 2001. Volume 1: Introduction, in: NOAA Atlas NESDIS 42, edited by: Levitus, S., U. S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, DC, 167 pp, 2002. a

Coppola, L., Raimbault, P., Mortier, L., and Testor, P.: Monitoring the Environment in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, EOS T. Am. Geophys. Un., 100, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EO125951, 2019. a

Durante, S., Schroeder, K., Mazzei, L., Pierini, S., Borghini, M., and Sparnocchia, S.: Permanent Thermohaline Staircases in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 1562–1570, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL081747, 2019. a

Escudier, R., Mourre, B., Juza, M., and Tintore, J.: Subsurface circulation and mesoscale variability in the Algerian subbasin from altimeter-derived eddy trajectories, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 121, 6310–6322, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC011760, 2016a. a, b, c, d

Escudier, R., Renault, L., Pascual, A., Brasseur, P., Chelton, D., and Beuvier, J.: Eddy properties in the Western Mediterranean Sea from satellite altimetry and a numerical simulation, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 121, 3990–4006, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JC011371, 2016b. a, b

Fichaut, M., Garcia, M.-J., Giorgetti, A., Iona, A., Kuznetsov, A., Rixen, M., and MEDAR, G.: MEDAR/MEDATLAS 2002: A Mediterranean and Black Sea database for operational oceanography, Elsev. Oceanogr. Serie., 69, 645–648, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0422-9894(03)80107-1, 2003. a

Gascard, J.-C. and Richez, C.: Water masses and circulation in the western Alboran Sea and in the strait of Gibraltar, Prog. Oceanogr., 15, 157–216, https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6611(85)90031-X, 1985. a

Houpert, L., Testor, P., Durrieu de Madron, X., Somot, S., D'Ortenzio, F., Estournel, C., and Lavigne, H.: Seasonal cycle of the mixed layer, the seasonal thermocline and the upper-ocean heat storage rate in the Mediterranean Sea derived from observations, Prog. Oceanogr., 132, 333–352, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2014.11.004, 2015. a

Houpert, L., Madron, X. D. D., Testor, P., Bosse, A., Bouin, F. D. M. N., Goff, D. D. H. L., Kunesch, S., Labaste, M., Mortier, L. C. L., and Raimbault, P.: Observations of open-ocean deep convection in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea: Seasonal and interannual variability of mixing and deep water masses for the 2007–2013 Period, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 121, 8139–8171, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC011857, 2016. a

Isern-Fontanet, J., Garcia-Ladona, E., and Font, J.: Vortices of the Mediterranean Sea: An Altimetric Perspective, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 36, 87–103, https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO2826.1, 2006. a, b

Iudicone, D., Louanchi, F., Mallil, K., Testor, P., and Mortier, L.: somba deployment (EGO glider: theque) (Mediterranean Sea – Western basin), SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/51460, 2014. a

Johnson, R. G.: Climate control requires a Dam at the strait of Gibraltar, EOS T. Am. Geophys. Un., 78, 277–281, https://doi.org/10.1029/97EO00180, 1997. a

Krahmann, G. and Schott, F.: Longterm increases in Western and Mediterranean salinities and temperatures: anthropogenic and climatic sources, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 4209–4212, https://doi.org/10.1029/1998gl900143, 1998. a, b

Lacoue-Labarthe, T., Nunes, P. A., Ziveri, P., Cinar, M., Gazeau, F., Hall-Spencer, J. M., Hilmi, N., Moschella, P., Safa, A., Sauzade, D., and Turley, C.: Impacts of ocean acidification in a warming Mediterranean Sea: An overview, Regional Studies in Marine Science, 5, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2015.12.005, 2016. a

Lozier, M. and Stewart, N. M.: NOTES AND CORRESPONDANCE On The Temporally Varying Northward Penetration of Mediterranean Overflow Water and Eastward Penetration on Labrador Sea Water, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 38, 2097–2103, https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JPO3908.1, 2008. a

Mallil, K.: LIW-detection, GitHub [code], https://github.com/KatiaMallil/LIW-detection, last access: 4 July 2022. a

Mallil, K., Bosse, A., Testor, P., and Margirier, F.: Levantine Intermediate Water in the Western Mediterranean Sea, SEANOE [data set], https://doi.org/10.17882/89189, 2018. a

Manca, B., Burca, M., Giorgetti, A., Coatanoan, C., Garcia, M.-J., and Iona, A.: Physical and biochemical averaged vertical profiles in the Mediterranean regions: an important tool to trace the climatology of water masses and to validate incoming data from operational oceanography, J. Marine Syst., 48, 83–116, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2003.11.025, 2004. a

Margirier, F., Testor, P., Heslop, E., Mallil, K., Bosse, A., Houpert, L., Mortier, L., Bouin, M.-N., Coppola, L., D'Ortenzio, F., de Madron, X. D., Mourre, B., Prieur, L., Raimbault, P., and Taillandier, V.: Abrupt warming and salinification of intermediate waters interplays with decline of deep convection in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, Sci. Rep.-UK, 10, 20923, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77859-5, 2020. a, b

MEDOC GROUP: Observation of Formation of Deep Water in the Mediterranean Sea, 1969, Nature, 227, 1037–1040, https://doi.org/10.1038/2271037a0, 1970. a, b

Millot, C.: Circulation in the Western Mediterranean Sea, J. Marine Syst., 20, 423–442, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0924-7963(98)00078-5, 1999. a, b, c

Millot, C. and Taupier-Letage, I.: Additional evidence of LIW entrainment across the Algerian subbasin by mesoscale eddies and not by a permanent westward flow, Prog. Oceanogr., 66, 231–250, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2004.03.002, 2005a. a

Millot, C. and Taupier-Letage, I.: chap. Circulation in the Mediterranean Sea, in: The Mediterranean Sea, vol. 5K of Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, edited by: Saliot, A., Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, https://doi.org/10.1007/b107143, 29–66, 2005b. a, b

Millot, C., Taupier-Letage, I., and Benzohra, M.: The Algerian eddies, Earth-Sci. Rev., 27, 203–219, https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-8252(90)90003-E, 1990. a

Mortier, L., Ameur, N. A., and Taillandier, V.: SOMBA GE 2014 CRUISE, RV Téthys II, https://doi.org/10.17600/14007500, 2014. a, b, c, d

Parras-Berrocal, I. M., Vázquez, R., Cabos, W., Sein, D. V., Álvarez, O., Bruno, M., and Izquierdo, A.: Surface and Intermediate Water Changes Triggering the Future Collapse of Deep Water Formation in the North Western Mediterranean, Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, e2021GL095404, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095404, 2022. a

Pessini, F., Olita, A., Cotroneo, Y., and Perilli, A.: Mesoscale eddies in the Algerian Basin: do they differ as a function of their formation site?, Ocean Sci., 14, 669–688, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-669-2018, 2018. a, b

Provenzale, A.: Transport by coherent barotropic vortices, Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 31, 55–93, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.fluid.31.1.55, 1999. a

Puillat, I., I.Taupier-Letage, and Millot, C.: Algerian Eddies lifetime can near 3 years, J. Marine Syst., 31, 245–259, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(01)00056-2, 2002. a, b

Ribotti, A. and Borghini, M.: Cruise Report: MEDCO08, Tech. rep., CNR IAMC (Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino e Costiero) and CNR ISMAR (Instituto di Scienze Marine), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279480010_Cruise_Report_MedCO08 (last access: 1 July 2022), 2008. a, b, c

Ribotti, A., Sorgente, R., Perilli, A., Cucco, A., Magni, P., and Borghini, M.: CTD profiles in the western and central Mediterranean between 2007 and 2020 from Italian cruises, SEANOE [data set], https://doi.org/10.17882/87567, 2022. a, b, c

Rixen, M., Beckers, J.-M., Levitus, S., Antonov, J., Boyer, T., Maillard, C., Fichaut, M., Balopoulos, E., Iona, S., Dooley, H., Garcia, M.-J., Manca, B., Giorgetti, A., Manzella, G., Mikhailov, N., Pinardi, N., and Zavatarelli., M.: The Western Mediterranean Deep Water: A proxy for climate change, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L12608, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005gl022702, 2005. a, b, c

Robinson, A., Wayne, G., Theocharis, A., and Lescaratos, A.: chap. Mediterranean Sea Circulation, Ocean Currents, in: Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, edited by: Steele, J. H., https://doi.org/10.1006/rwos.2001.0376, 1689–1705, 2001. a, b

Rohling, E. and Bryden, H.: Man-Induced Salinity and Temperature Increases in Western Mediterranean Deep Water, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11191–11198, https://doi.org/10.1029/92JC00767, 1992. a

Schroeder, K., Ribotti, A., Borghini, M., Sorgente, R., Perilli, A., and Gasparini, G. P.: An extensive Western Mediterranean Deep Water renewal between 2004 and 2006, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L18605, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL035146, 2008. a

Schroeder, K., Chiggiato, J., Bryden, H., Borghini, M., and Ismail, S. B.: Abrupt climate shift in the Western Mediterranean Sea, Sci. Rep.-UK, 6, 23009, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep23009, 2016. a

Schroeder, K., Chiggiato, J., Josey, S. A., Borghini, M., Aracri, S., and Sparnocchia, S.: Rapid response to climate change in a marginal sea, Sci. Rep.-UK, 7, 4065, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04455-5, 2017. a, b

Sparnocchia, S., Manzella, G., and Violette, P. L.: The interanual and seasonal variability of MAW and LIW core properties in the Western Mediterranean sea, in: Seasonal and interanual variability of the Western Mediterranean sea, Coastal and Estuarine Studies, edited by: La Violette, P. E., 177–194, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/CE046p0117 (last access: 4 July 2022), 1994. a

Taupier-Letage, I., Puillat, I., and Millot, C.: Biological response to mesoscale eddies in the Algerian Basin, J. Geophys. Res., 108, 3245, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JC000117, 2003. a

Tchernia, P.: L'eau intermédiaire dans le bassin Algéro-Provençal, Bull. Inf. COEC, 10, 19–22, 1958. a

Testor, P. and Gascard, J.-C.: Large scale flow separation and mesoscale eddy formation in the Algerian Basin, Prog. Oceanogr., 66, 211–230, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2004.07.018, 2005. a, b, c

Testor, P., Send, U., Gascard, J., Millot, C., Taupier-Letage, I., and Béranger, K.: The mean circulation of the southwestern Mediterranean Sea: Algerian Gyres, J. Geophys. Res., 110, C11017, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004jc002861, 2005a. a, b, c, d

Testor, P., Béranger, K., and Mortier, L.: Modeling the deep eddy field in the southwestern Mediterranean: The life cycle of Sardinian eddies, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L13602, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL022283, 2005b. a, b, c

Testor, P., Goff, H. L., Labaste, M., Coppola, L., Mortier, L., Taillandier, V., Dausse, D., Kunesch, S., Diamond-Riquier, E., Garcia, N., de Madron, X. D., and Raimbault, P.: MOOSE GE, SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.18142/235, 2010. a

Testor, P., Mortier, L., Coppola, L., Claustre, H., D'ortenzio, F., Bourrin, F., de Madron, X. D., and Raimbault, P.: Glider MOOSE sections, SEANOE, https://doi.org/10.17882/52027, 2017. a

Testor, P., Bosse, A., Houpert, L., Margirier, F., Mortier, L., Legoff, H., Dausse, D., Labaste, M., Karstensen, J., Hayes, D., Olita, A., Ribotti, A., Schroeder, K., Chiggiato, J., Onken, R., Heslop, E., Mourre, B., D'ortenzio, F., Mayot, N., Lavigne, H., de Fommervault, O., Coppola, L., Prieur, L., Taillandier, V., de Madron, X. D., Bourrin, F., Many, G., Damien, P., Estournel, C., Marsaleix, P., Taupier-Letage, I., Raimbault, P., Waldman, R., Bouin, M.-N., Giordani, H., Caniaux, G., Somot, S., Ducrocq, V., and Conan, P.: Multiscale Observations of Deep Convection in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea During Winter 2012–2013 Using Multiple Platforms, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 123, 1745–1776, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC012671, 2018. a, b

The MerMex Group: Durrieu de Madron, X., Guieu, C., Sempéré, R., Conan, P., Cossa, D., D'ortenzion, F., Estournel, C., Gaseau, F., Rabouille, C., Stemmann, L., Bonnet, S., Diaz, F., Koubbi, P., Radakovitch, O., Babin, M., Baklouti, M., Bancon-Montigny, C., Belviso, S., Bensoussan, N., Bonsang, B., Bouloubassi, I., Brunet, C., Cadiou, J.-F., Carlotti, F., Chami, M., Charmasson, S., Charrière, B., Dachs, J., Doxaran, D., Dutay, J.-C., Elbaz-Poulichet, F., Eléaume, M., Eyrolles, F., Fernandez, C., Fowler, S., Francour, P., Gaertner, J. C., Galzin, R., Gasparini, S., Ghiglione, J.-F., Gonzalez, J. L., Goyet, C., Guidi, L., Guizien, K., Heimbürger, L. E., Jacquet, S. H. M., Jeffrey, W. H., Joux, F., Le Hir, P., Leblanc, K., Lefèvre, D., Lejeusne, C., Lemé, R., Loÿe-Pilot, M. D., Mallet, M., Méjanelle, L., Mélin, F., Mellon, C., Mérigot, B., Merle, P. L., Migon, C., Miller, W. L., Mortier, L., Mostajir, B., Mousseau, L., Moutin, T., Para, J., Pérez, T., Petrenko, A. A., Poggiale, J. C., Prieur, L., Pujol, M. I., Pulido-Villena, Raimbault, P., Rees, A. P., Ridame, C., Rontani, J. F., Ruiz Pino, D., Sicre, M. A., Taillandier, V., Tamburini, C., Tanaka, T., Taupier-Letage, I., Tedetti, M., Testor, P., Thébault, H., Thouvenin, B., Touratier, F., Tronczynski, J., Ulses, C., Van Wambeke, F., Vantrepotte, V., Vaz, S., and Verney, R.: Marine ecosystems' response to climatic and anthropogenic forcings in the Mediterranean, Prog. Oceanogr., 91, 97–166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2011.02.003, 2011. a

Thurnherr, A.: A Practical Assessment of the Errors Associated with Full-Depth LADCP Profiles Obtained Using Teledyne RDI Workhorse Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 27, 1215–1227, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JTECHO708.1, 2010. a

Vargas-Yáñez, M., Moya, F., García-Martínez, M., Tel, E., P.Zunino, Plaza, F., Salat, J., J.Pascual, López-Jurado, J., and M.Serra: Climate change in the western Mediterranean Sea 1900-2008, J. Marine Syst., 82, 171–176, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2010.04.013, 2010a. a

Vargas-Yáñez, M., Zunino, P., Benali, A., Delpy, M., Moya, F. P. F., del Carmen García-Martínez, M., and Tel, E.: How much is the western Mediterranean really warming and salting, J. Geophys. Res., 115, C04001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JC005816, 2010b. a

Vargas-Yáñez, M., García-Martínez, M., Moya, F., Balbín, R., López-Jurado, J., Serra, M., Zunino, P., Pascual, J., and Salat, J.: Updating temperature and salinity mean values and trends in the Western Mediterranean: The RADMED project, Prog. Oceanogr., 157, 27–46, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2017.09.004, 2017. a

Visbeck, M.: Deep Velocity Profiling Using Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers: Bottom Track and Inverse Solutions, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 19, 794–807, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2002)019<0794:DVPULA>2.0.CO;2, 2002. a

Wüst, G.: On the vertical circulation of the Mediterranean sea, J. Geophys. Res., 66, 3261–3271, https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ066i010p03261, 1961. a, b

Zunino, P., Schroeder, K., Vargas-Yáñez, M., Gasparini, G., Coppola, L., García-Martínez, M., and Moya-Ruiz, F.: Effects of the Western Mediterranean Transition on the resident water masses: Pure warming, pure freshening and pure heaving, J. Marine Syst., 96–97, 15–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.01.011, 2012. a