South-Eastern Bay of Biscay eddy-induced anomalies and their effect on chlorophyll distribution

Type Article
Date 2016-10
Language English
Author(s) Caballero Ainhoa1, Rubio Anna1, Ruiz Simon2, Le Cann Bernard3, Testor Pierre4, Mader Julien1, Hernandez Carlos1
Affiliation(s) 1 : AZTI Tecnalia, Div Marine Res, Herrera Kaia Portualdea Z-G, Pasaia 20110, Spain.
2 : CSIC UIB, IMEDEA, Inst Mediterraneo Estudios Avanzados, Esporles, Spain.
3 : CNRS Ifremer IRD UBO, Lab Phys Oceans, UMR 6523, Brest, France.
4 : Univ Paris 06, CNRS, LOCEAN, UMR 7159, Paris, France.
Source Journal Of Marine Systems (0924-7963) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2016-10 , Vol. 162 , P. 57-72
DOI 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.04.001
WOS© Times Cited 15
Note SI : Progress in marine science supported by European joint coastal observation systems: The JERICO-RI research infrastructure
Keyword(s) Eddies, Bay of Biscay, Glider, Hydrography, Mesoscale, Eddy-wind
Abstract The analysis of deep-water glider hydrographic and fluorescence data, together with satellite measurements provides a new insight into eddy-induced anomalies within the South-Eastern Bay of Biscay, during summer. Two cyclonic eddies and a SWODDY have been observed in different glider transects and by means of different sources of satellite data. Vertical profiles reveal complex structures (characteristic of the second baroclinic mode): upward/downward displacement of the seasonal/permanent thermocline in the case of X13 and the opposite thermocline displacements in the case of the cyclones. This is a typical behaviour of mode-water and “cyclonic thinny” eddies. A qualitative analysis of the vertical velocities in the anticyclone indicates that though geostrophy dominates the main water column, depressing the isopycnals, near the sea-surface the eddy-wind interaction affects the vertical currents, favouring Ekman pumping and upwelling. The analysis of the Θ-S properties corroborates that inside cyclones and between the 26 and 27 isopycnals, net downwelling occurs. These two types of intra-thermocline lenses appear to deeply impact the Chl-a fluorescence profiles, since the maximum Chl-a fluorescence is located just below the seasonal thermocline. The mean Chl-a fluorescence was higher in the anticyclone than within the cyclones and the mean for the entire study period; the highest values were observed in the centre of the anticyclone. These results are in agreement with previous findings concerning the SWODDY F90 and surrounding cyclones, located in the South-Western Bay of Biscay. Significant differences in the Θ-S properties of the two cyclonic mesoscale structures have been observed: higher temperatures and lower salinity in the easternmost cyclone. Finally, time variation of the salinity content of the shallowest water masses of the anticyclone (salinity decreasing over time), probably indicates advective mixing processes occurred during the mission.
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