Cropper, Thomas E., Hanna, Edward and Bigg, Grant R. (2014) Spatial and temporal seasonal trends in coastal upwelling off Northwest Africa, 1981-2012. Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 86 . pp. 94-111. ISSN 0967-0637
Full content URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2014.01.007
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Item Type: | Article |
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Item Status: | Live Archive |
Abstract
Seasonal coastal upwelling was analyzed along the NW African coastline (11-35°N) from 1981 to 2012. Upwelling magnitudes are calculated by wind speed indices, sea-surface temperature indices and inferred from meteorological station, sea-surface height and vertical water column transport data. A permanent annual upwelling regime is documented across 21-35°N and a seasonal regime across 12-19°N, in accordance with the climatology of previous studies. Upwelling regions were split into three zones: (1) the Mauritania-Senegalese upwelling zone (12-19°N), (2) the strong permanent annual upwelling zone (21-26°N) and (3) the weak permanent upwelling zone (26-35°N). We find compelling evidence in our various indices for the Bakun upwelling intensification hypothesis due to a significant coastal summer wind speed increase, resulting in an increase in upwelling-favorable wind speeds north of 20°N and an increase in downwelling-favorable winds south of 20°N. The North Atlantic Oscillation plays a leading role in modifying interannual variability during the other seasons (autumn-spring), with its influence dominating in winter. The East Atlantic pattern shows a strong correlation with upwelling during spring, while El Niño Southern Oscillation and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation teleconnections were not found. A disagreement between observationally-based wind speed products and reanalysis-derived data is explored. A modification to the Bakun upwelling intensification hypothesis for NW Africa is presented, which accounts for the latitudinal divide in summer wind regimes. © 2014 The Authors.
Additional Information: | Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council |
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Keywords: | Africa, Coastal upwelling, Interannual variability, Meteorological station, NAO, North Atlantic oscillations, Sea surface temperatures, SST, Atmospheric pressure, Climate change, Coastal engineering, Wind, coastal zone, data acquisition, North Atlantic Oscillation, seasonal variation, spatiotemporal analysis, transport process, upwelling, water column, wind velocity, Africa, JCOpen |
Subjects: | F Physical Sciences > F332 Marine Physics |
Divisions: | College of Science > School of Geography |
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ID Code: | 25984 |
Deposited On: | 10 Feb 2017 10:36 |
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