Ligurian Sea

The Ligurian Sea (Italian: Mar Ligure; French: Mer Ligurienne; Ligurian: Mâ Ligure) is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera (Liguria) and the island of Corsica. The sea is theorized to be named after the ancient Ligures people.

The Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea: in red the border according to International Hydrographic Organization, in blue the border according to Istituto Idrografico della Marina

Geography

The sea borders Italy as far as its border with France, and the French island of Corsica. In the east the sea borders the Tyrrhenian Sea, while in the west it borders the Mediterranean Sea proper. Genoa is the most prominent city in the area. The northwest coast is noted for its scenic beauty and favourable climate.

The Gulf of Genoa is its northernmost part. The sea receives the Arno River from the east and many other rivers that originate in the Apennines. The ports of Genoa, La Spezia, and Livorno are on its rocky coast. It reaches a maximum depth of more than 2,800 m (9,300 ft) northwest of Corsica.

According to a 1983 study, since 1977 a series of experimental analyses on sea-level variations at Genoa and Imperia highlighted "the existence of a seiche wave with a mean period of 5.8 hours", whose reasons weren't yet explained at that time. The Ligurian Sea was modeled as a rectangular semi-closed basin with a longitudinal length of 40 kms and a trasversal one of 10 km, in an average constant depth of 2000 m.[1]

Extent

The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Ligurian Sea as follows:[2]

On the Southwest. A line joining Cape Corse (Cape Grosso, 9°23′E) the Northern point of Corsica to the frontier between France and Italy (7°31′E).

On the Southeast. A line joining Cape Corse with Tinetto Island (44°01′N 9°51′E) and thence through Tino and Palmaria Islands to San Pietro Point (44°03′N 9°50′E) on the Coast of Italy.

On the North The Ligurian Coast of Italy.

Flowings

The Ligurian Sea is attraversed by the Modified Atlantic Water (MAW) on its surface and by the Levantine Intermediate Water in depth. It is also brushed by the two main currents which surround the Corsica island: the Western Corsica Current and the Tyrrenian current that reaches the Corsica Channel.[3]

Conservation

In order to provide protection for the numerous cetacean (whales and dolphins; porpoises are not found in this part of the Mediterranean Sea) species in the Ligurian Sea the bordering countries established the sea as a SPAMI in 1999. The International Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary now covers 84,000 km2 (32,000 sq mi) covering territorial waters as well as high sea.

References
  1. Lorenzo Papa (1 December 1983). "A numerical computation of a seiche oscillation of the Ligurian Sea" (pdf). Geophysical Journal International. Oxford University Press. 75 (3): 659–667. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.1983.tb05004.x. ISSN 0956-540X. OCLC 4640460944. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 29, 2018.
  2. "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition" (PDF). International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. S. Vignudelli1, P. Cipollini, F. Reseghetti, G. Fusco, G. P. Gasparini, G. M. R. Manzella (2003). "Comparison between XBT data and TOPEX/Poseidon satellite altimetry in the Ligurian-Tyrrhenian area" (pdf). Annales Geophysicae. European Geosciences Union. 21 (21): 123-135. doi:10.5194/angeo-21-123-2003. ISSN 0992-7689. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 20, 2008 – via DOAJ.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) At the introductory paragraph.

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