Temporal changes in the water mass distribution and transports along the 20 degrees W CAIBOX section (NE Atlantic)

Other titles Cambios temporales en los transportes y la distribución de las masas de agua a lo largo de la sección 20º W de CAIBOX (Atlántico NE)
Type Article
Date 2012-04
Language English
Author(s) Carracedo LidiaORCID1, Pardo P. C.1, Villacieros-Robineau N.1, de La Granda F.1, Gilcoto M.1, Perez F.F.1
Affiliation(s) 1 : CSIC, IIM, Vigo 36208, Spain.
Source Ciencias Marinas (0185-3880) (Inst Investigaciones Oceanologicas, U A B C), 2012-04 , Vol. 38 , N. 1B , P. 263-286
DOI 10.7773/cm.v38i1B.1793
WOS© Times Cited 10
Keyword(s) Northeast Atlantic, Azores Current, water masses, multiparametric mixing analysis
Abstract

The CAIBOX cruise was conducted from 25 July to 14 August 2009. Three consecutive transects (zonal, meridional, and transverse) formed a closed box to the west of the Strait of Gibraltar. This study aimed to analyze the thermohaline properties, volume transports, and water mass distributions (percentages) along the meridional section (30-41.5 degrees N, 20 degrees W). We identified the main geostrophic current (Azores Current) and its associated volume transport and interannual changes. Data from previous cruises (AZORES 1, A16N, CLIVAR, OACES, and CHAOS) with similar tracks were employed to compare with the CAIBOX meridional section. All but one (CHAOS) were summer cruises. We estimated a mean transport for the Azores Current at 20 degrees W of 9.3 +/- 2.6 Sv. There appears to be an inverse relation between the position of this current and its associated transport, with relatively high (low) transports when the current is located roughly south (north) of 35 degrees N. Regarding water masses, an increase of 14.4% was found for Mediterranean Water compared with the 1993, 1998, and 2003 cruises; however, Labrador Sea Water decreased its contribution and southward spreading between 1998 and 2009.

Abstract <p>Entre el 25 de julio y el 14 de agosto de 2009 se llev&oacute; a cabo la campa&ntilde;a CAIBOX, que const&oacute; de tres transectos consecutivos (zonal, occidental y transversal) conformando una caja cerrada al oeste del estrecho de Gibraltar. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo fue el estudio de las propiedades termohalinas, los transportes (en t&eacute;rminos de volumen) y la distribuci&oacute;n de las masas de agua (en porcentajes) a lo largo de la secci&oacute;n occidental (30&ndash;41.5&ordm; N, 20&ordm; W). Se identific&oacute; la corriente geostr&oacute;fica principal (Corriente de las Azores), el transporte asociado a ella y sus cambios interanuales. Adicionalmente se consideraron los datos de cinco campa&ntilde;as anteriores (AZORES I, A16N, CLIVAR, OACES y CHAOS) con secciones similares a las de la campa&ntilde;a CAIBOX. Todas excepto una (CHAOS) fueron campa&ntilde;as estivales. El transporte medio para la Corriente de las Azores a 20&ordm; W se estim&oacute; en 9.3 &plusmn; 2.6 Sv. Parece existir cierta relaci&oacute;n inversa entre la posici&oacute;n de dicha corriente y su transporte asociado, con transportes relativamente altos (bajos) cuando la corriente se sit&uacute;a al sur (norte) de 35&ordm; N. En cuanto a las masas de agua, se observa un incremento de 14.4% del Agua Mediterr&aacute;nea en comparaci&oacute;n con las campa&ntilde;as de 1993, 1998 y 2003; sin embargo, el Agua de Labrador ha disminuido su contribuci&oacute;n y su propagaci&oacute;n hacia el sur entre 1998 y 2009.</p>
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