Surface circulation of the Levantine Basin: Comparison of model results with observations B. Alhammoud a,b,c, * , K. Be ´ranger a,b , L. Mortier a,b , M. Cre ´pon a , I. Dekeyser c a LODYC-IPSL, Universite ´ P. et M. Curie, T45–55, 4 e Etage, BC 100, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France b ENSTA, Unite ´dÕEnseignement et de Recherche en Me ´canique, Chemin de la Hunie `re, 91761 Palaiseau, France c COM, Campus de Luminy, case 901, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France Received 14 October 2002; received in revised form 7 August 2003; accepted 2 July 2004 Available online 9 June 2005 Abstract The eastern Mediterranean (Levantine Basin) hydrography and circulation are investigated by comparing the results of a high-resolution primitive equation model with observations. After a 10-year integration, the model is able to reproduce the major water masses and the circulation patterns of the eastern Mediterranean. Comparisons with the POEM hydrographical observations show good agreement. The vertical distribution of the water masses matches that of the observations quite well in terms of monthly mean. The model surface circulation is in agreement with circula- tion schemes derived from recent observations. Some well-known mesoscale features of the upper thermocline circu- lation are also realistically reproduced. In agreement with satellite observations, the model shows that high-energy mesoscale eddies dominate the upper thermocline circulation in the southern and the central parts of the Levantine Basin. Most of the Atlantic Water follows the north African coast and forms a strong coastal jet near the Libyan coast rather than forming the Mid-Mediterranean Jet described by several authors. The sub-basin circulation shows a strong seasonal signal. A strong and stable current flows along the isobaths in winter, becoming weaker and with more meanders in summer. The mesoscale eddies throughout the whole basin are more energetic in summer than in winter. Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Mediterranean Sea; Levantine basin; Circulation; Mesoscale eddies; Seasonal variability 0079-6611/$ - see front matter Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2004.07.015 * Corresponding author. Fax: +33 1 44 27 71 59. E-mail address: bahjat@lodyc.jussieu.fr (B. Alhammoud). Progress in Oceanography 66 (2005) 299–320 Progress in Oceanography www.elsevier.com/locate/pocean