Abstract
The boreal summer upwelling along the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea (GG) is characterized using new in situ sea surface temperature (SST) from onset sensor and satellite TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) datasets. This study aims to encourage intensive in situ SST measurements at the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It shows good agreement between daily in situ SST and TMI SST and similar coastal upwelling onset date, end date, and durations calculated using both datasets. Interannual evolution of the onset date at four stations along the northern coast of GG indicates that the upwelling can be initiated at one cape or simultaneously at both the cape of palms and the cape of three points. It can be also initiated eastward towards Cotonou or globally off all the northern coasts of GG. Nonsignificant trend is found on upwelling onset date and end date variability. Moreover, this study shows that SST is significantly warm or cold some years. Ocean conditions during these years are related to known physical processes.
Highlights
Coastal upwellings are characterized by seasonally low sea surface temperature (SST)
This paper proposes to use two datasets derived, respectively, from satellite measurements and new in situ SST records from onset sensors moored along the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea
This study aims to characterize the boreal summer upwelling at the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea during the 1998– 2011 period
Summary
Coastal upwellings are characterized by seasonally low sea surface temperature (SST). They generally result from the response of the coastal ocean to alongshore winds, leading to the production of a relatively intense current with a small offshore and a large alongshore component [1]. This causes the pumping of cooler and nutrient-rich waters from the subsurface to the ocean surface. June and October correspond to transition periods where an upwelling could be observed These months are characterized by a progressive fall of SST in June and a return of warm water in October corresponding, respectively, to the beginning and International Journal of Oceanography (a)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have