Characteristics of the South Pacific subtropical surface salinity maximum
Abstract
The surface salinity (SSS) in the eastern South Pacific has a large maximum centered near (21°S, 120°W). It extends approximately 5000 km in the east-west direction and is bounded by the Humboldt Current on the east and the South Pacific Convergence Zone on the west. It is distinct from another much smaller and less distinct SSS maximum feature in the western South Pacific near Australia. It is associated with
High evaporation and surface Ekman convergence Weak variability and seasonality on the northern side Fluctuating size driven by changes in southward extent Mean surface currents flowing toward and through the feature from the north Higher tendency for fresh anomalies on northern side These characteristics highlight the role of mesoscale stirring and northward Ekman transport in the formation and maintenance of this prominent feature.- Publication:
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American Geophysical Union, Ocean Sciences Meeting
- Pub Date:
- February 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUOSPO34B3060B
- Keywords:
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- 4504 Air/sea interactions;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICALDE: 4513 Decadal ocean variability;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICALDE: 4572 Upper ocean and mixed layer processes;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICALDE: 4594 Instruments and techniques;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL