Extreme Western Intermediate Water formation in winter 2010

► Winter 2010 was very severe, producing a massive formation of Western Intermediate Water (WIW). ► WIW could be formed along the whole Spanish continental shelf as far to the south as Cape Palos. ► This larger formation area would lead to a WIW with a TS range wider than previously accepted. ► Previous formation events of WIW at southern latitudes could have been unnoticed because of the lack of monitoring programs.