On the Mechanism of Formation of Intrathermocline Lenses
in the Canyon Area of the Gulf of Cadiz Continental Slope

D. L. Aleinik, E. A. Plakhin, and B. N. Filyushkin

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskii pr. 36, Moscow, 117218 Russia

Received February 23, 1998

Abstract—The data of hydrophysical observations over the continental slope of the Gulf of Cadiz along the
coast of Portugal (35°50–36°45 N and 7°30–9°30 W) are analyzed. The data were obtained from R/V Vityaz’
during the period August 12–22, 1988, and from R/V Oceanus in September of 1988. It is shown that the bulk
of the Mediterranean water inflows into the ocean at great depths in the area of canyons that cut the continental
slope from north to south. The mechanism of formation of intrathermocline lenses is described. This mecha-
nism is governed by the inflow of water of higher temperature and salinity along the canyons. A possibility of
identification of the lenses in the Canary Basin with respect to the region of their origination is discussed with
the use of hydrooptical and acoustic measurements.

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