Surface Salinity in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre During the STRASSE/SPURS Summer 2012 Cruise

Reverdin, G, Morisset, S, Marieé, L, Bourras, D, Sutherland, G, Ward, B, Salvador, J, Font, J, Cuypers, Y, Centorioni, L, Hormann, V, Koldziejczyk, N, Boutin, J, D'Ovidio, F, Nencioli, F, Martin, N, Diverres, D, Alory, G and Lumpkin, R 2015 Surface Salinity in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre During the STRASSE/SPURS Summer 2012 Cruise. Oceanography, 28 (1). 114-123. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2015.09

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2015.09

Abstract/Summary

We investigated a 100 × 100 km high-salinity region of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre during the Sub-Tropical Atlantic Surface Salinity Experiment/Salinity Processes in the Upper-ocean Regional Study (STRASSE/SPURS) cruise from August 21, 2012, to September 9, 2012. Results showed great variability in sea surface salinity (SSS; over 0.3 psu) in the mesoscale, over 7 cm of total evaporation, and little diapycnal mixing below 36 m depth, the deepest mixed layers encountered. Strong currents in the southwestern part of the domain, and the penetration of freshwater, suggest that advection contributed greatly to salinity evolution. However, it was further observed that a smaller cyclonic structure tucked between the high SSS band and the strongest currents contributed to the transport of high SSS water along a narrow front. Cross-frontal transport by mixing is also a possible cause of summertime reduction of SSS. The observed structure was also responsible for significant southward salt transport over more than 200 km.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Subjects: Earth Observation - Remote Sensing
Marine Sciences
Oceanography
Divisions: Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Earth Observation Science and Applications
Depositing User: Francesco Nencioli
Date made live: 08 Oct 2015 10:48
Last Modified: 06 Jun 2017 16:14
URI: https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/6680

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