Multiple thermal fronts near the Patagonian shelf break

Eighteen year (1985-2002) sea surface temperature (SST) data are used to study the intraseasonal variability of the Patagonian shelf break front (SBF) in the SW South Atlantic Ocean between 39° and 44°S. The cross-shelf break SST gradients reveal distinct, previously undocumented thermal fronts loca...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rivas, Andres Lujan, Pisoni, Juan Pablo
Language:unknown
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Atmospheric temperature
Climate change
Potential flow
Topography
Vorticity
Intraseasonal variability
Potential vorticity
Sea surface temperature (SST)
Oceanography
oceanic front
sea surface temperature
seasonal variation
shelf break front
temperature gradient
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean (South)
Malvinas Current
Patagonian Shelf
Argentina
South Atlantic Ocean
Online Access:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00948276_v35_n2_p_Franco
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00948276_v35_n2_p_Franco
Description
Summary:Eighteen year (1985-2002) sea surface temperature (SST) data are used to study the intraseasonal variability of the Patagonian shelf break front (SBF) in the SW South Atlantic Ocean between 39° and 44°S. The cross-shelf break SST gradients reveal distinct, previously undocumented thermal fronts located both, offshore and inshore of the SBF. Throughout the year the main SBF, identified as a band of negative SST gradient maxima (relatively strong offshore temperature decrease), forms a persistent feature located closed to the 200 m isobath, while two distinct negative gradient maxima are located inshore and offshore of this location. Daily SST images reveal the presence of three branches of cold waters whose edges delineate the above mentioned fronts. The two offshore branches closely follow lines of constant potential vorticity (f/h) and appear to be associated with the Malvinas Current, while a third branch, located further onshore, is not steered by the bottom topography. South of 40°S the onshore branch forms a quasi permanent front parallel to the SBF. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union. Fil:Rivas, A.L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Pisoni, J.P. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

Similar Items