Seasonal changes in the mixed and barrier layers in the western Equatorial Atlantic
Climate is closely related to the dynamics of the surface layer of the tropical Atlantic and the exchange between this latter and the atmosphere, and wearther forecasting will improve with increasing understanding of the processes that govern the relative distribution of thermodynamic properties of the water column. This paper focuses on the isolation of warm surface waters from the cold ones of the deep ocean by a salinity induced barrier layer (BL) in the western equatorial Atlantic (3ºS-7ºN; 40º-52ºW), based on 487 CTD profiles (REVIZEE - 1995-2001). The main process contributing to the seasonal BL formation is the discharge of low salinity waters from the Amazon river. During boreal late winter/spring (Mar-May; high river discharge), deeper isothermal (Z T) and mixed layers (Z M) prevail and the formation of a 16m-thick BL was clearly determined the formation of a salt-induced marked pycnocline within a deeper isothermal layer. However, during the boreal autumn (Oct-Dec; low river discharge), density stratification was mainly determined by temperature distribution (Z M m Z T; BLT = Z M - Z T m 0). There was no clear register of a BL on the Amazon shelf, but a maximum BL (40 m) formed near the shelf break at 45°W.
Main Authors: | Silva,Alex, Araujo,Moacyr, Medeiros,Carmen, Silva,Marcus, Bourles,Bernard |
---|---|
Format: | Digital revista |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico
2005
|
Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-87592005000200001 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Study of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean mixing layer using a one-dimensional turbulence model
by: Skielka,Udo Tersiano, et al.
Published: (2010) -
Vertical Mixing in the Atlantic Equatorial Undercurrent
by: Rodríguez-Santana, Ángel, et al.
Published: (2014-06-11) -
Equatorial Atlantic mid-ocean channel and its interaction with the Fernando de Noronha fracture zone (Western Equatorial Atlantic)
by: Juan, Carmen, et al.
Published: (2007-03) -
Salinity intrusion and convective mixing in the Atlantic Equatorial Undercurrent
by: Claret, Mariona, et al.
Published: (2012-09) -
Total mercury in the night shark, Carcharhinus signatus in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean
by: Ferreira,Alexandre Gomes, et al.
Published: (2004)