Article Type:
Research Article

Seasonal Flow Reversals of Intermediate Waters in the Canary Current System East of the Canary Islands

Francisco Machín Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

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Josep L. Pelegrí Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain

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E. Fraile-Nuez Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

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P. Vélez-Belchí Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

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F. López-Laatzen Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

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A. Hernández-Guerra Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

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Print Publication:
01 Aug 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JPO4320.1
Page(s):
1902–1909
Restricted access

Abstract

Two 9-yr current-meter and salinity records, together with climatological data, reveal marked seasonal variability of the intermediate flow at a key location in the Canary Basin. The region is characterized by a summer (July–September) and early fall (October) northward progression of Antarctic Intermediate Water followed by a fall (November–December) intense flow reversal of Mediterranean Water. A Sverdrup-type model confirms that these movements are associated with stretching or shrinking of the intermediate water strata.

Corresponding author address: Francisco Machín, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario de Tafira, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Email: fmachin@becarios.ulpgc.es

Abstract

Two 9-yr current-meter and salinity records, together with climatological data, reveal marked seasonal variability of the intermediate flow at a key location in the Canary Basin. The region is characterized by a summer (July–September) and early fall (October) northward progression of Antarctic Intermediate Water followed by a fall (November–December) intense flow reversal of Mediterranean Water. A Sverdrup-type model confirms that these movements are associated with stretching or shrinking of the intermediate water strata.

Corresponding author address: Francisco Machín, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario de Tafira, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Email: fmachin@becarios.ulpgc.es

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