Rapid response to coastal upwelling in a semienclosed bay

Gilcoto, M, Largier, J, Barton, ED, Piedracoba, S, Torres, R, Graña, R, Alonso-Perez, F, Villacieros-robineau, N and de La Granda, F 2017 Rapid response to coastal upwelling in a semienclosed bay. Geophysical Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL072416

Text 20161221_RapidUpwelling_grl.docx - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives. Download (1MB)

Abstract/Summary

Bays/estuaries forced by local wind show bidirectional exchange flow. When forced by remote Q3 wind, they exhibit unidirectional flow adjustment to coastal sea level. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler observations over 1 year show that the Ria de Vigo (Iberian Upwelling) responds to coastal wind events with bidirectional exchange flow. The duration of the upwelling and downwelling events, estimated from the current variability, was ~3.3 days and ~2.6 days, respectively. Vectorial correlations reveal a rapid response to upwelling/downwelling, in which currents lag local wind by <6 h and remote wind by <14 h, less than the Ekman spinup (17.8 h). This rapidity arises from the ria’s narrowness (nonrotational local response), equatorward orientation (additive remote and local wind responses), depth greater than the Ekman depth (penetration of shelf circulation into the interior), and vertical stratification (shear reinforcing shelf circulation). Similar rapid responses are expected in other narrow bays where local and remote winds act together and stratification enhances bidirectional flow.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Subjects:	Oceanography
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Marine System Modelling
Depositing User:	Ricardo Torres
Date made live:	09 Mar 2017 09:18
Last Modified:	13 Dec 2023 12:21
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7384

Actions (login required)

View Item