A model for ocean circulation on the Iberian coast
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more Also appears in:Frankignoulle, M. (Ed.) (2002). Exchange Processes at the Ocean Margins. Selected papers from the 32nd International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, held in Liège, Belgium on May 8-12, 2000. Journal of Marine Systems, 32(1-3). Elsevier: Amsterdam. ex1-ex2, 252 pp., more | |
Keywords | Circulation Exchange Fluxes Modelling Welding fluxes > Fluxes ANE, Europe, Iberian Peninsula [Marine Regions] Marine/Coastal |
Authors | | Top | - Coelho, H.S., correspondent
- Neves, R.J.J.
- White, M.
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Abstract | We used a three-dimensional model with generic vertical coordinate to investigate the structure of flow and transports on the Iberian shelf-slope region. Two different types of experiments were conducted. The first was a process-oriented study to investigate the role of thermohaline forcing in the generation and meridional variability of the poleward slope current. The second experiment was a more realistic simulation for the year of 1994, a period for which there are several long-term current meter data sets available. Comparisons between model, data and other published works have shown a reasonable agreement both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results obtained included the seasonal cycle with upwelling during the summer and a winter surface poleward current over the shelf, with a permanent undercurrent transporting Mediterranean Water along the Portuguese and Spanish slopes. The along-slope transports were predominant especially in the OMEX II-II study area. The meridional transport is poleward all year round, decreasing from winter to summer and from the south to the north. |
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