Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)

Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)

Climatological data indicate that Gulf of California (GC) waters are warmed in spring by the exchange of waters with the Pacific Ocean. To better understand this exchange, hydrographic observations were collected across the entrance to the GC during 19–21 April 2013. Results indicated an anticycloni...

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Main Authors: Castro, Rubén, Collins, Curtis A, Rago, Thomas A, Margolina, Tetyana, Navarro-Olache, Luis F
Format: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Language:eng
Published: Iniversidad Autónoma de Baja California 2017
Online Access:https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2771
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language eng
description Climatological data indicate that Gulf of California (GC) waters are warmed in spring by the exchange of waters with the Pacific Ocean. To better understand this exchange, hydrographic observations were collected across the entrance to the GC during 19–21 April 2013. Results indicated an anticyclonic exchange with the Pacific Ocean. Strong outflow of Gulf of California Water (GCW) occurred over the outer continental shelf and slope of Sinaloa with maximum velocities of 0.5 m·s–1 at ~60 m depth and reaching ~500 m depth. Inflow close to the Baja California Peninsula was weaker (0.1–0.2 m·s–1) and transported both California Current Water and GCW. Satellite altimeter data indicated a possible reason for this flow pattern at the entrance to the GC: a couple of eddies to the east blocked the usual path of California Current flow toward Sinaloa. Horizontal transports integrated across the gulf were calculated with observed velocity and geostrophic balance. Transports were greatest in the upper 200 m, with outflow above 500 m depth, implying a net cooling of these upper layer waters in the gulf. Observations were compared with data collected in early May 1992. April 2013 exhibited much greater thermohaline variability in the upper ocean than May 1992, when a well developed cyclonic flow was observed at the entrance to the GC. The transports estimated with Pegasus for April–May 1992 were very different from those estimated for April 2013, when inflow (and heat gain) dominated above 500 m depth. The contrast between the 2013 and 1992 measurements is an example of how mesoscale eddies can reverse normal seasonal exchanges at the entrance to the GC. 
format info:eu-repo/semantics/article
author Castro, Rubén
Collins, Curtis A
Rago, Thomas A
Margolina, Tetyana
Navarro-Olache, Luis F
spellingShingle Castro, Rubén
Collins, Curtis A
Rago, Thomas A
Margolina, Tetyana
Navarro-Olache, Luis F
Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)
author_facet Castro, Rubén
Collins, Curtis A
Rago, Thomas A
Margolina, Tetyana
Navarro-Olache, Luis F
author_sort Castro, Rubén
title Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)
title_short Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)
title_full Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)
title_fullStr Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)
title_full_unstemmed Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013)
title_sort currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the gulf of california (19–21 april 2013)
publisher Iniversidad Autónoma de Baja California
publishDate 2017
url https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2771
_version_ 1792608728260804608
spelling repositorioinstitucional-20.500.12930-75322023-05-09T14:30:22Z Currents, transport, and thermohaline variability at the entrance to the Gulf of California (19–21 April 2013) Corrientes, transportes y variabilidad termohalina en la entrada al golfo de California (19–21 de abril de 2013) Castro, Rubén Collins, Curtis A Rago, Thomas A Margolina, Tetyana Navarro-Olache, Luis F Climatological data indicate that Gulf of California (GC) waters are warmed in spring by the exchange of waters with the Pacific Ocean. To better understand this exchange, hydrographic observations were collected across the entrance to the GC during 19–21 April 2013. Results indicated an anticyclonic exchange with the Pacific Ocean. Strong outflow of Gulf of California Water (GCW) occurred over the outer continental shelf and slope of Sinaloa with maximum velocities of 0.5 m·s–1 at ~60 m depth and reaching ~500 m depth. Inflow close to the Baja California Peninsula was weaker (0.1–0.2 m·s–1) and transported both California Current Water and GCW. Satellite altimeter data indicated a possible reason for this flow pattern at the entrance to the GC: a couple of eddies to the east blocked the usual path of California Current flow toward Sinaloa. Horizontal transports integrated across the gulf were calculated with observed velocity and geostrophic balance. Transports were greatest in the upper 200 m, with outflow above 500 m depth, implying a net cooling of these upper layer waters in the gulf. Observations were compared with data collected in early May 1992. April 2013 exhibited much greater thermohaline variability in the upper ocean than May 1992, when a well developed cyclonic flow was observed at the entrance to the GC. The transports estimated with Pegasus for April–May 1992 were very different from those estimated for April 2013, when inflow (and heat gain) dominated above 500 m depth. The contrast between the 2013 and 1992 measurements is an example of how mesoscale eddies can reverse normal seasonal exchanges at the entrance to the GC.  Datos climatológicos indican que las aguas del golfo de California (GC) se calientan en primavera por el intercambio de aguas con el océano Pacífico. Para entender mejor este intercambio, se recolectaron datos hidrográficos en la entrada al GC del 19 al 21 de abril de 2013. Los resultados indicaron un intercambio anticiclónico. Hubo un flujo intenso de salida de Agua del Golfo de California (AGC) sobre la parte exterior de la plataforma continental y el talud continental de Sinaloa, con velocidades máximas de 0.5 m·s–1 a 60 m y hasta ~500 m de profundidad. El flujo de entrada ocurrió cerca de la península de Baja California, fue más débil (0.1–0.2 m·s–1) y transportó Agua de la Corriente de California y AGC. Los datos de altimetría satelital indicaron una posible razón para este patrón de flujo: un par de remolinos al este de la entrada bloquearon la trayectoria del flujo de la corriente de California hacia Sinaloa. Los transportes horizontales integrados fueron calculados con la velocidad observada y el balance geostrófico. Los transportes fueron mayores en los 200 m superiores, con flujo de salida arriba de 500 m de profundidad, lo que implica un enfriamiento neto de las aguas en la capa superior del golfo. Las observaciones se compararon con datos de mayo de 1992. En abril de 2013 se observó una mayor variabilidad termohalina que en mayo de 1992, con un flujo ciclónico bien desarrollado en la entrada al GC. Los transportes estimados para abril y mayo de 1992 con Pegasus fueron muy diferentes a los transportes estimados para abril de 2013, donde el flujo de entrada (y aumento de calor) dominaron por encima de los 500 m de profundidad. El contraste entre las mediciones de 2013 y 1992 es un ejemplo de cómo los remolinos de mesoescala pueden revertir los intercambios estacionales en la entrada al GC. 2017-09-29 2021-06-03T03:55:35Z 2021-06-03T03:55:35Z info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article Artículo Arbitrado https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2771 10.7773/cm.v43i3.2771 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12930/7532 eng https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2771/1932 Copyright (c) 2017 Ciencias Marinas application/pdf Iniversidad Autónoma de Baja California Ciencias Marinas; Vol. 43 No. 3 (2017); 173-190 Ciencias Marinas; Vol. 43 Núm. 3 (2017); 173-190 2395-9053 0185-3880

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