IMIS

Publications | Institutes | Persons | Datasets | Projects | Maps
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Seasonal and wind-induced variability of Sea Surface Temperature patterns in the Gulf of Cádiz
Vargas, J.M.; García-Lafuente, J.; Delgado, J.; Criado, F. (2003). Seasonal and wind-induced variability of Sea Surface Temperature patterns in the Gulf of Cádiz. J. Mar. Syst. 38(3-4): 205-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0924-7963(02)00240-3
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Forces (mechanics) > Stress (mechanics) > Wind stress
    Properties > Water properties > Temperature > Water temperature > Surface temperature
    Remote sensing > Geosensing > Satellite sensing
    Spatial variations
    Surfaces > Sea surface
    Temporal variations > Periodic variations > Seasonal variations
    ANE, Cadiz Gulf [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    thermal satellite imagery; sea surface temperature; northeasternAtlantic; Gulf of Cadiz; seasonal variability; spatial variance; windstress

Authors  Top 
  • Vargas, J.M.
  • García-Lafuente, J.
  • Delgado, J.
  • Criado, F.

Abstract
    The evolution of thermal structures in the Gulf of Cádiz is analysed with a set of 325 weekly composite Sea Surface Temperature (SST) images derived from NOAA-AVHRR sensor, and covering a time span of 7 years, from 1993 to 1999. A spatial Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis has been performed in order to identify the main SST spatial patterns. The first EOF mode explains 60% of the temperature variance of the images, and shows a quasi-permanently warmer than the mean region in the southern part of the area of study. The second mode (13% of variance), has a strong temporal variability, and is the main responsible for the cooling and warming of the shelf waters in southwestern Iberia. These two modes explain together most of the seasonal variability of SST over the basin, particularly the variation and strength of the upwelling area located southeast of Portugal. The third mode explains 6% of variance and is well correlated with the local zonal wind. Two wind-induced upwelling can be clearly identified in this mode. The first one, located at the southwestern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, takes place during easterlies events. The second one, related to westerlies, is located to the east of Cape Santa María, and is associated with a southeastward transport of cold surface waters from that Cape.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors