Regionalizing the Impacts of Wind‐ and Wave‐Induced Currents on Surface Ocean Dynamics: A Long‐Term Variability Analysis in the Mediterranean Sea

Effects of wind and waves on the surface dynamics Mediterranean Sea are assessed using a modified Ekman model including Stokes-Coriolis force in momentum equation. Using 25 years observations, we documented intermittent but recurrent episodes during which Stokes currents substantially modulate total mesoscale by two nonexclusive mechanisms: (a) providing vigorous input (e.g., where regional winds stronger) and/or (b) opposing forces to main direction geostrophic component. To properly characterize occurrence variability these dynamical regimes, perform an objective classification combining self-organizing maps wavelet coherence analyses. It allows proposing new based respective contributions wind, wave, components dynamics. We found that effects more prominent northwestern Mediterranean, while southwestern eastern basins mainly dominated The resulting temporal patterns show strong seasonal signal cycles 5–6 kinetic energy arising from both ageostrophic components. Moreover, whole basin, specially regions characterized wind- wave-induced currents, shows characteristic period at 5 years. This can be related climate modes variability. Regional trends intensification 0.058 ± 1.43 · 10−5 cm/s per year.