The upper mixed layer during coastal upwelling events on the northern portugal shelf

Abstract

The upper mixed layer (UML) depth obtained from temperature is very slose to that from density: the maximum is about 15m. This indicates that temperature is a good indicator of mixed layer during measurements. When the surface heat flux is balanced by a cross-shore heat flux, the surface mixed layer depth obtained from the WM model (Weatherly and Martin, 1978), h PRT, is roughly the same as observed. The mixed layer depth calculated from the PWP model (Price, Weller and Pinkel, 1986) is close to the depth obtained from thermistor chain temperature data. The results show that both the WM model and PWP model can provide a good estimate of stratification in the study area during the cruise. The value of log (h/u 3) is about 9.5 in the study area, which shows that the study area is strongly stratified in summer. Observations on the northern Portugal shelf reveal high variability in stability, giving rise to semi-diurnal, semi-monthly and diurnal oscillations, and long term variations. The fortnightly oscillations are highlighted by post-springs and post-neaps. The stirring of spring tide is reinforced by strong wind mixing which brings about complete vertical homogeneity everywhere. The semi-diurnal periodic stratification is very pronounced because the major axis of the tidal ellipse is orientated acrossshore, even though the tidal current is weak in this area, the maximum stratification is observed around the middle, of ebb, and the water at this time is much warmer. The diurnal oscillation results from the upper ocean response to heating and wind mixing when solar heating warms and stabilizes the upper ocean. There is a clear relationship between upper mixed layer depth and wind-stress magnitude at subtidal frequencies. Stronger winds result in a deeper surface mixed layer. Typically, the surface mixed layer depth lags the wind stress by 6–12 h.