Temporal changes in the water mass distribution and transports along the 20 degrees W CAIBOX section (NE Atlantic)

• Published in: Ciencias Marinas
• Main Authors: Carracedo, Lidia, Pardo, P. C., Villacieros-robineau, N., De La Granda, F., Gilcoto, M., Perez, F.f.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Inst Investigaciones Oceanologicas, U A B C
• Subjects: geo; envir; Estrecho; Labrador Sea
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7773/cm.v38i1B.1793; https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00629/74111/73545.pdf; https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00629/74111/

The CAIBOX cruise was conducted from 25 July to 14 August 2009. Three consecutive transects (zonal, meridional, and transverse) formed a closed box to the west of the Strait of Gibraltar. This study aimed to analyze the thermohaline properties, volume transports, and water mass distributions (percentages) along the meridional section (30-41.5 degrees N, 20 degrees W). We identified the main geostrophic current (Azores Current) and its associated volume transport and interannual changes. Data from previous cruises (AZORES 1, A16N, CLIVAR, OACES, and CHAOS) with similar tracks were employed to compare with the CAIBOX meridional section. All but one (CHAOS) were summer cruises. We estimated a mean transport for the Azores Current at 20 degrees W of 9.3 +/- 2.6 Sv. There appears to be an inverse relation between the position of this current and its associated transport, with relatively high (low) transports when the current is located roughly south (north) of 35 degrees N. Regarding water masses, an increase of 14.4% was found for Mediterranean Water compared with the 1993, 1998, and 2003 cruises; however, Labrador Sea Water decreased its contribution and southward spreading between 1998 and 2009. Entre el 25 de julio y el 14 de agosto de 2009 se llevó a cabo la campaña CAIBOX, que constó de tres transectos consecutivos (zonal, occidental y transversal) conformando una caja cerrada al oeste del estrecho de Gibraltar. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo fue el estudio de las propiedades termohalinas, los transportes (en términos de volumen) y la distribución de las masas de agua (en porcentajes) a lo largo de la sección occidental (30–41.5º N, 20º W). Se identificó la corriente geostrófica principal (Corriente de las Azores), el transporte asociado a ella y sus cambios interanuales. Adicionalmente se consideraron los datos de cinco campañas anteriores (AZORES I, A16N, CLIVAR, OACES y CHAOS) con secciones similares a las de la campaña CAIBOX. Todas excepto una (CHAOS) fueron campañas estivales. El transporte ...