TY - JOUR

T1 - SST stationary anomalies in the Azores region

AU - Bashmachnikov, Igor

AU - Lafon, Virginie

AU - Martins, Ana

PY - 2004/12/1

Y1 - 2004/12/1

N2 - SST spatial variability in the Azores region is investigated using a method of least-square fit of a spatially averaged seasonal curve to monthly mean temperature variability curves at each pixel. The zero-order coefficient of the least-square fit is considered to represent a stationary anomaly field over the Azores region. The anomaly field reflects that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) forms a barrier for heat exchange between the western and the eastern subtropical North Atlantic basins. Two SST frontal interfaces are identified to the east of MAR: the North Azores Flow (NAzF), which crosses MAR at 42-43°N, and the northern border of the Azores current. Several regions with significantly cooler surface waters are identified on stationary SST anomaly field. The temperature difference inside and outside of the cold-water pools sometimes exceeds 0.5°C. The most prominent pools are observed at the eastern flank of the MAR, between the Central and Eastern groups of the Azores islands and at a seamount chain south of the Azores. Those cooler water pools can be related to bottom-trapped advection, intensification of cyclones over bottom rises or enhanced tidal mixing near abrupt bottom topography.

AB - SST spatial variability in the Azores region is investigated using a method of least-square fit of a spatially averaged seasonal curve to monthly mean temperature variability curves at each pixel. The zero-order coefficient of the least-square fit is considered to represent a stationary anomaly field over the Azores region. The anomaly field reflects that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) forms a barrier for heat exchange between the western and the eastern subtropical North Atlantic basins. Two SST frontal interfaces are identified to the east of MAR: the North Azores Flow (NAzF), which crosses MAR at 42-43°N, and the northern border of the Azores current. Several regions with significantly cooler surface waters are identified on stationary SST anomaly field. The temperature difference inside and outside of the cold-water pools sometimes exceeds 0.5°C. The most prominent pools are observed at the eastern flank of the MAR, between the Central and Eastern groups of the Azores islands and at a seamount chain south of the Azores. Those cooler water pools can be related to bottom-trapped advection, intensification of cyclones over bottom rises or enhanced tidal mixing near abrupt bottom topography.

KW - Azores

KW - Sea surface temperature anomalies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=15944408855&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1117/12.565596

DO - 10.1117/12.565596

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:15944408855

VL - 5569

SP - 148

EP - 155

JO - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

JF - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

SN - 0277-786X

M1 - 17

T2 - Remote Sensing of the Ocean and Sea Ice 2004

Y2 - 13 September 2004 through 14 September 2004

ER -