Sea surface temperatures around the souhtern [i.e. southern] African coast : climatological aspects and applications

• Main Author: Greenwood, Karin C.
• Other Authors: Grundlingh, L., Schloms, B., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies .
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2003
• Subjects: Ocean temperature > Africa; Southern; Ocean-atmosphere interaction > Africa; Ocean temperature > Economic aspects > Africa; South Africa > Climate; Dissertations > Geography and environmental studies; Theses > Geography and environmental studies; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53583

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The oceanic and meteorological systems that characterize the southern African coastline are well-documented. In this thesis, these characteristics have been considered in conjunction with the analysis of a unique set of sea surface temperature (SST) data, obtained from measuring sites around the southern African coast, to determine the variability of SSTs in the immediate coastal region of southern Africa, and to demonstrate how this variability impacts on marinerelated economic activities. As part of the analysis process, various statistical techniques have been applied to the data over different time periods to establish the extent of the spatial variability of SSTs along the southern African coastline. From the results it has been possible to identify three distinctly different 'climatological' regions around the southern African coast; viz a cooler west coast region with a low annual and seasonal SST variability and a higher variability from day-ta-day, a warmer east coast region with a higher annual and seasonal SST variability and a lower variability from day-ta-day; and a temperate south coast region with a highly erratic annual, seasonal and day-ta-day SST variability. Furthermore, it has been possible to identify, albeit small, the existence of a high and a low frequency signal of 12-15 days and 40-60 days, respectively, in the three different regions. There is also evidence of the periodic occurrence of anomalously warm and cold SST events in all three regions, and a probability of <1.1% of a day-ta-day SST anomaly of >3°C (+3°C or- 3°C) occurring anywhere along the southern African coastline. The general causes of SST change have been discussed within the context of the heat budget equation. Furthermore, the effects of the variability of SST on the climate and marine life around southern Africa and the resulting impact on the various marine-related economic activities (such as aquaculture, air-sea rescue and power stations) have ...