by Global Ocean Associates Prepared for Office of Naval Research – Code 322 PO Azores Azores Overview

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Galapagos; Mid-Atlantic Ridge; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.181.1140; http://www.internalwaveatlas.com/Atlas2_PDF/IWAtlas2_Pg049_Azores.pdf

The Azores is a group of nine islands located in the North Atlantic approximately 1200 km west of Portugal and scattered over an area of approximately 1,000 km 2 (Figure 1). The islands are volcanic in origin and are the largest group of peaks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to form islands (Figure 1). Figure 1. Bathymetry map of the Azores. [Smith and Sandwell, 1997] Observations There has been little scientific study of internal waves around the Azores. Satellite imagery suggests that the internal waves in and around the Azores are generated by the interaction of tidal or current flow with bathymetry, primarily lower peaks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The waves are expected to occur primarily during the summer (June to September) when solar heating produces a seasonal thermocline in the North Atlantic. The internal wave signatures appear similar to those observed around other island groups (e.g. the Galapagos). Table 1- Months when internal waves have been observed around the Azores. (Numbers indicate unique dates in that month when waves have been noted)