DYNAMICAL ADJUSTMENT OF QUASI-SYNOPTIC DATA SETS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN - TESTING A FULL BASIN COASTAL METHODOLOGY

The availability of nearly synoptic basin-wide data sets, has provided the basis for the extension of a regional coastal methodology to full basin. The kinematic boundary conditions for a quasi-geostrophic mode l in an arbitrary domain, (partially) open or closed and simply- or mu ltiply-connected, are briefly reviewed. A method for the implementatio n of these conditions with real ocean data is presented for the full E astern Mediterranean and subregions, and the sensitivities are discuss ed. Objectively analyzed maps are produced for model initialization. S imulations of two-week duration are carried out in the Levantine and t he full Eastern Mediterranean basins to determine the best domain-aver age amplitude for the barotropic mode and the best treatment of coasta l constraint.