Coastal Sea Surface Temperature Research Articles

Numerical Study on the Precipitation Concentration over the Western Coast of Sumatra Island

Abstract Large amounts of tropical precipitation have been observed as significantly concentrated over the western coast of Sumatra Island. In the present study, we used a cloud-resolving model to perform 14-day numerical simulations and reproduce the distinctive precipitation distributions over western Sumatra Island and adjacent areas. The control experiment, in which the warmer sea surface temperature (SST) near the coast was incorporated and the terminal velocity and effective radius of ice clouds were parameterized to be temperature dependent, adequately reproduced the precipitation concentration as well as the diurnal cycles of precipitation. We then used the column-integrated frozen moist static energy budget equation, which is virtually equivalent to the column-integrated moisture budget equation under the weak temperature gradient assumption, to formulate sensitivity experiments focusing on the effects of coastal SST and upper-level ice clouds. Analysis of the time-averaged fields revealed that the column-integrated moisture and precipitation in the coast were significantly reduced when a cooler coastal SST or larger ice cloud particle size was assumed. Based on the comparison of the sensitivity experiments and in situ observations, we speculate that ice clouds, which are exported from inland convection that is strictly regulated by solar radiation, promote the accumulation of moisture in the coastal region by mitigating radiative cooling. Together with the moisture and heat supplied by the warm ocean surface, they contribute to the large amounts of precipitation here.

Fall-winter sea surface temperature anomalies affect subsequent spring-summer phytoplankton succession and bioluminescence patterns in the Black Sea coastal waters near Crimea

Seasonal and interannual dynamics of bioluminescence intensity and succession of the major phytoplankton taxonomic groups were analyzed using the six-year monitoring of Crimean coastal waters (the northern Black Sea) in 2009–2014. Monitoring program included regular CTD and bioluminescence intensity casts in the upper 60 m layer by means of “Salpa-M” sonde accompanied with phytoplankton sampling from subsurface (∼0.2 m) and from the layer of maximal bioluminescence intensity. Years with anomalous warm and cold preceding fall-winter periods were defined on the basis of remotely sensed monthly sea surface temperature (SST) and long-term records on coastal SST measuring station. It was shown that succession of phytoplankton and net vertical bioluminescence patterns in subsequent spring-summer seasons depend upon the SST anomaly during preceding fall-winter period. In “cold” years a minimal bioluminescence intensity associated with a diminished biomass and species abundance of luminous dinoflagellates as well as diatoms and dinoflagellates groups as a whole were observed. A number of luminous dinoflagellate species dropped out of spring phytoplankton community (e.g., Scrippsiella cf. acuminata). As a result, a typical spring peak of bioluminescence in the upper mixed layer has not been observed during these years. In contrast maximal bioluminescence intensity and phytoplankton abundance in spring-summer was observed in “warm” years; biomass and bioluminescence intensity peaks shift to earlier month (April) in comparison to “moderate” years; period of dinoflagellate dominance was more extended during the spring-summer succession phase. Overall, group of dinoflagellates including luminous species, seems to be the most sensitive group of algae to climatic SST anomalies in coastal waters of the northern Black Sea. Hence, the bioluminescence in the upper sea layer can act as an indicator of climate-induced phytoplankton community restructuring.

California margin temperatures modulate regional circulation and extreme summer precipitation in the desert Southwest

In August 2022, Death Valley, the driest place in North America, experienced record flooding from summertime rainfall associated with the North American monsoon (NAM). Given the socioeconomic cost of these type of events, there is a dire need to understand their drivers and future statistics. Existing theory predicts that increases in the intensity of precipitation is a robust response to anthropogenic warming. Paleoclimatic evidence suggests that northeast Pacific (NEP) sea surface temperature (SST) variability could further intensify summertime NAM rainfall over the desert southwest. Drawing on this paleoclimatic evidence, we use historical observations and reanalyzes to test the hypothesis that warm SSTs on the southern California margin are linked to more frequent extreme precipitation events in the NAM domain. We find that summers with above-average coastal SSTs are more favorable to moist convection in the northern edge of the NAM domain (southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the southern Great Basin). This is because warmer SSTs drive circulation changes that increase moisture flux into the desert southwest, driving more frequent precipitation extremes and increases in seasonal rainfall totals. These results, which are robust across observational products, establish a linkage between marine and terrestrial extremes, since summers with anomalously warm SSTs on the California margin have been linked to seasonal or multi-year NEP marine heatwaves. However, current generation earth system models (ESMs) struggle to reproduce the observed relationship between coastal SSTs and NAM precipitation. Across models, there is a strong negative relationship between the magnitude of an ESM’s warm SST bias on the California margin and its skill at reproducing the correlation with desert southwest rainfall. Given persistent NEP SST biases in ESMs, our results suggest that efforts to improve representation of climatological SSTs are crucial for accurately predicting future changes in hydroclimate extremes in the desert southwest.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation modulated marine heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific during past decades

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation has been suggested to play an important role in driving marine heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific during recent decades. Here we combine observations and climate model simulations to show that marine heatwaves became longer, stronger and more frequent off the Northeast Pacific coast under a positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation scenario, unlike what is found during a negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation scenario. This primarily results from the different mean-state sea surface temperatures between the two Pacific Decadal Oscillation phases. Compared to the cool (negative) phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, warmer coastal sea surface temperatures occur during the positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation phase due to reduced coastal cold upwelling and increased net downward surface heat flux. Model results show that, relative to the background anthropogenic global warming, the positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation in the period 2013–2022 prolongs marine heatwaves duration by up to 43% and acts to increase marine heatwaves annual frequency by up to 32% off the Northeast Pacific coast.

Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas

Coral reefs in the Central Indo-Pacific region comprise some of the most diverse and yet threatened marine habitats. While reef monitoring has grown throughout the region in recent years, studies of coral reef benthic cover remain limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here, we analysed 24,365 reef surveys performed over 37 years at 1972 sites throughout East Asia by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network using Bayesian approaches. Our results show that overall coral cover at surveyed reefs has not declined as suggested in previous studies and compared to reef regions like the Caribbean. Concurrently, macroalgal cover has not increased, with no indications of phase shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on reefs. Yet, models incorporating socio-economic and environmental variables reveal negative associations of coral cover with coastal urbanisation and sea surface temperature. The diversity of reef assemblages may have mitigated cover declines thus far, but climate change could threaten reef resilience. We recommend prioritisation of regionally coordinated, locally collaborative long-term studies for better contextualisation of monitoring data and analyses, which are essential for achieving reef conservation goals.

40 years of changes in sea surface temperature along the Western Iberian Coast

Climate change is causing mean sea surface temperatures (SST) to increase worldwide. However, this increase has not been temporally or spatially uniform, with variations observed depending both on the period considered and the geographic region. In this context, this paper aims to quantify relevant changes in SST along the Western Iberian Coast over the last four decades, through the calculation of trends and anomalies of long-term time series of in situ observations and satellite-derived data. Potential drivers of SST changes were considered using atmospheric and teleconnections time series. Changes in the seasonal cycle of SST were also evaluated.We show that SST has increased since 1982, with regional variations between 0.10 and 0.25 °C per decade, with an increase in air temperature appearing to drive the SST trends along the Iberian coast. In the near-shore area, no significant trends or changes in the seasonal cycle of SST were observed, which is likely due to a buffer effect caused by the seasonal upwelling that characterizes the region. Recent decades show a slowdown in the increase rate of SST along the Western Iberian Coast. An upwelling intensification could justify this observation, along with the effect of teleconnections on the regional climate, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Western Mediterranean Oscillation Index (WeMOI). Our results suggest that the WeMOI plays a more important role in coastal SST variability than the other teleconnections.The present study quantifies regional changes in SST and enhances knowledge of the role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in regulating climate and weather conditions. Moreover, it provides a relevant scientific context to the development of regional adaptative and mitigation actions in response to climate change.

Coastal warming under climate change: Global, faster and heterogeneous

The assessment of expected changes in coastal sea surface temperature (SST) on a global scale is becoming increasingly important due to the growing pressure on coastal ecosystems caused by climate change. To achieve this objective, 17 Global Climate Models from CMIP6 were used, with data from historical and hist-1950 experiments spanning 1982–2050. This analysis highlights significant warming of coastal areas worldwide, with higher and more variable rates of warming than observed in previous decades. All basins are projected to experience an increase in coastal SST near 1 °C by mid-century, with some regions exhibiting nearshore SST anomalies exceeding 2 °C for the period 2031–2050 relative to 1995–2014. Regarding the Eastern Upwelling Boundary Systems, only the Canary upwelling system and the southern part of the Humboldt upwelling system manage to show lower-than-average SST warming rates, maintaining, to a certain extent, their ability to buffer global warming.

Global and Regional Discrepancies between Early-Twentieth-Century Coastal Air and Sea Surface Temperature Detected by a Coupled Energy-Balance Analysis

Abstract A major uncertainty in reconstructing historical sea surface temperature (SST) before the 1990s involves correcting for systematic offsets associated with bucket and engine-room intake temperature measurements. A recent study used a linear scaling of coastal station-based air temperatures (SATs) to infer nearby SSTs, but the physics in the coupling between SATs and SSTs generally gives rise to more complex regional air–sea temperature differences. In this study, an energy-balance model (EBM) of air–sea thermal coupling is adapted for predicting near-coast SSTs from coastal SATs. The model is shown to be more skillful than linear-scaling approaches through cross-validation analyses using instrumental records after the 1960s and CMIP6 simulations between 1880 and 2020. Improved skill primarily comes from capturing features reflecting air–sea heat fluxes dominating temperature variability at high latitudes, including damping high-frequency wintertime SAT variability and reproducing the phase lag between SSTs and SATs. Inferred near-coast SSTs allow for intercalibrating coastal SAT and SST measurements at a variety of spatial scales. The 1900–40 mean offset between the latest SST estimates available from the Met Office (HadSST4) and SAT-inferred SSTs range between −1.6°C (95% confidence interval: [−1.7°, −1.4°C]) and 1.2°C ([0.8°, 1.6°C]) across 10° × 10° grids. When further averaged along the global coastline, HadSST4 is significantly colder than SAT-inferred SSTs by 0.20°C ([0.07°, 0.35°C]) over 1900–40. These results indicate that historical SATs and SSTs involve substantial inconsistencies at both regional and global scales. Major outstanding questions involve the distribution of errors between our intercalibration model and instrumental records of SAT and SST as well as the degree to which coastal intercalibrations are informative of global trends. Significance Statement To evaluate the consistency of instrumental surface temperature estimates before the 1990s, we develop a coupled energy-balance model to intercalibrate measurements of sea surface temperature (SST) and station-based air temperature (SAT) near global coasts. Our model captures geographically varying physical regimes of air–sea coupling and outperforms existing methods in inferring regional SSTs from SAT measurements. When applied to historical temperature records, the model indicates significant discrepancies between inferred and observed SSTs at both global and regional scales before the 1960s. Our findings suggest remaining data issues in historical temperature archives and opportunities for further improvements.

The Role of Equatorially Forced Waves in Triggering Benguela Niño/Niña as Investigated by an Energy Flux Diagnosis

AbstractThe Benguela Niño/Niña events manifest the anomalous signals of sea surface temperature (SST) in the coastal region of the tropical Atlantic Ocean. These events are triggered by the interannual modulation of either equatorial waves or local atmospheric forcing. In the present study, the mechanism that equatorial waves induce the coastal SST anomaly is investigated in terms of the transfer episodes of wave energy. The analysis suggests that most of the coastal events can be reproduced by subseasonal wind forcing with an interannual modulation that excites oceanic waves of the first three baroclinic modes. The transfer routes of wave energy illustrate the role of wave dynamics that explains how the interannual variability of SST in the equatorial Atlantic is connected with that in coastal regions. The linearly superposed sign‐indefinite potential energy flux owing to waves manifests its capability of sufficiently displacing the thermocline so as to trigger the coastal events. The results suggest that the equatorial wave signal is able to provide credible predictions for remotely forced Benguela Niño/Niña events if a proper transection in central equatorial Atlantic with an appropriate threshold is selected for observing.

Mechanisms of cholera transmission via environment in India and Bangladesh: state of the science review.

Cholera has a long history in India and Bangladesh, the region where six out of the past seven global pandemics have been seeded. The changing climate and growing population have led to global cholera cases remaining high despite a consistent improvement in the access to clean water and sanitation. We aim to provide a holistic overview of variables influencing environmental cholera transmission within the context of India and Bangladesh, with a focus on the mechanisms by which they act. We identified 56 relevant texts (Bangladesh n = 40, India n = 7, Other n = 5). The results of the review found that cholera transmission is associated with several socio-economic and environmental factors, each associated variable is suggested to have at least one mediating mechanism. Increases in ambient temperature and coastal sea surface temperature support cholera transmission via increases in plankton and a preference of Vibrio cholerae for warmer waters. Increased rainfall can potentially support or reduce transmission via several mechanisms. Common issues in the literature are co-variance of seasonal factors, limited access to high quality cholera data, high research bias towards research in Dhaka and Matlab (Bangladesh). A specific and detailed understanding of the relationship between SST and cholera incidence remains unclear.

Thermal physiology integrated species distribution model predicts profound habitat fragmentation for estuarine fish with ocean warming

Species distribution models predict a poleward migration for marine ectotherms with ocean warming. However, a key limitation in current species distribution models (SDM) is that they do not account for population-specific heterogeneity in physiological responses to temperature change resulting from local adaptations and acclimatization. To address this gap, we developed a novel, Physiology Integrated BioClimate Model (PIBCM) that combines habitat-specific metabolic thermal physiological tolerance of a species into a bioclimate envelope model. Using a downscaling approach, we also established a fine-resolution coastal sea-surface temperature data set for 2050–2080, that showed a high degree of location-specific variability in future thermal regimes. Combining predicted temperature data with the PIBCM model, we estimated habitat distribution for a highly eurythermal intertidal minnow, the Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), a species that likely presents a best-case-scenario for coastal vertebrates. We show that the killifish northern boundary shifts southwards, while distinct habitat fragmentation occurs in the southern sub-population (due to migration of adjacent fish populations to the nearest metabolically optimal thermal habitat). When compared to current SDMs (e.g., AquaMaps), our results emphasize the need for thermal physiology integrated range shift models and indicate that habitat fragmentation for coastal fishes may reshape nursery habitats for many commercially and ecologically important species.

Mesoscale Variability of Surface Ducts During Santa Ana Wind Episodes

AbstractMesoscale variability of the marine boundary layer characteristics and the corresponding radio wave ducting conditions over the Southern California Bight (SCB) during three Santa Ana wind events have been examined based on the analysis of field observations and diagnosis of mesoscale model simulations. Under the influence of a dry and the stably stratified airflow from inland, a shallow moist internal boundary layer (MIBL) develops over the coastal waters. The MIBL consists of a thin well‐mixed moist layer capped by an inversion layer where the specific humidity decreases with height sharply. Accordingly, a surface duct (SD) is virtually ubiquitous with its depth compared with the MIBL depth. The wind direction and the SD characteristics exhibit diurnal variations over the SCB area associated with land and sea breezes. In addition, the MIBL interacts with the coastal topography, Channel Islands, and sea surface temperature gradients, resulting in spatial mesoscale variabilities in SD characteristics. Specifically, the SD height and strength grow with the offshore distance owing to the surface latent heat flux over sea, and in the meantime, exhibit substantial along‐shore variations. The shallow MIBL tends to split and flow around the higher elevation of the islands, leading to the formation of wakes with reduced modified refractivity. These island wakes may extend dozens of kilometers downstream with the SD height and strength growing accordingly.

Sea Surface Temperature Trends in the Coastal Zone of Southern England

Kassem, H.; Amos, C.L., and Thompson, C.E.L., 2023. Sea surface temperature trends in the coastal zone of southern England. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(1), 18–31. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Sea surface temperature (SST) trends along the south coast of England (northern English Channel) were examined based on data from systematic buoy measurements deployed by the National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes of England (NNRCMP) since 2003. These data were supplemented with: (1) long-term, coastal SST measurements by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS); (2) global data sets compiled by the Hadley Centre since 1900, and (3) satellite-derived observations from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (Aqua) since 2002. These data sets were used to evaluate de-seasoned nearshore trends in SST along the south coast of England and examine links to regional ocean-atmosphere teleconnections. The analyses of long-term, CEFAS data support the proposal that prior to the mid-1980s there were no de-seasoned trends in SST and conditions from year to year were relatively stable. Subsequently, interannual fluctuations appear to have increased, associated with a period of warming between 1985 and 2003 (0.28 °C/decade). Post 2003, interannual fluctuations in SST monitored by the NNRCMP buoys continued, and the warming trend appears to be greater (0.42 °C/decade). This trend in SST is greatest in the nearshore and decreases with distance offshore. The warming in SST also varied greatly from month to month. The greatest warming took place from December to March, whilst the least heating (and sometimes cooling) occurred between September and November. Analysis of Hadley (HadSST1.1) and MODIS data sets substantiated these trends. The greatest warming (post 2003) was found west of Portland Bill (up to 0.76 °C/decade) and decreased towards the Strait of Dover. Despite this west-to-east trend, all 12 NNRCMP stations between Penzance and Folkestone showed remarkably similar results, suggesting regional and global sources of heat rather than local sources. This is corroborated through wavelet coherence analysis linking SST anomalies to regional/global ocean-atmosphere teleconnection indices at seasonal scales.

Impact of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on the Benguela Upwelling

Abstract The impact of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the southern African climate is well documented and provides skill in the seasonal forecast of rainfall, but less is known about the impact of ENSO on the Benguela Current west of southern Africa. There is a significant weak correlation between ENSO and the Benguela Current upwelling sea surface temperature (SST) in austral summer. Correlation is positive for southern Benguela and negative for northern Benguela. A significant correlation exists with up to 8 months lag when ENSO leads. The impact of ENSO is due to weaker-than-normal upwelling favorable southeasterly winds during El Niño in southern Benguela, leading to warmer-than-normal coastal SST. In contrast, during La Niña, stronger-than-normal southeasterly winds lead to cooler-than-normal SST. The opposite effect applies to northern Benguela. The coastal wind change is part of an ENSO large-scale basinwide perturbation in the tropical and South Atlantic. However, non-ENSO-related SST variation in the Benguela upwelling can be as important as ENSO-related SST perturbation, and some ENSO events do not lead to the expected changes. Changes in the Benguela upwelling are linked to changes in the intensity of the trade winds associated with a change of the South Atlantic anticyclone intensity and position. In southern Benguela, changes are also associated with variations in midlatitude low pressure systems and associated upwelling unfavorable westerly winds. La Niñas favor the development of Benguela Niños in Angola and Namibia. This study shows the potential for SST seasonal predictability in the Benguela upwelling due to the leading lag correlation between ENSO and the Benguela upwelling SST.

Using Satellite-Based Data to Facilitate Consistent Monitoring of the Marine Environment around Ireland

As an island nation, Ireland needs to ensure effective management measures to protect marine ecosystems and their services, such as the provision of fishery resources. The characterization of marine waters using satellite data can contribute to a better understanding of variations in the upper ocean and, consequently, the effect of their changes on species populations. In this study, nineteen years (1998–2016) of monthly data of essential climate variables (ECVs), chlorophyll (Chl-a), and the diffuse attenuation coefficient (K490) were used, together with previous analyses of sea surface temperature (SST), to investigate the temporal and spatial variability of surface waters around Ireland. The study area was restricted to specific geographically delineated divisions, as defined by the International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The results showed that SST and Chl-a were positively and significantly correlated in ICES divisions corresponding to oceanic waters, while in coastal divisions, SST and Chl-a showed a significant negative correlation. Chl-a and K490 were positively correlated in all cases, suggesting an important role of phytoplankton in light attenuation. Chl-a and K490 had significant trends in most of the divisions, reaching maximum values of 1.45% and 0.08% per year, respectively. The strongest seasonal Chl-a trends were observed in divisions VIId and VIIe (the English Channel), primarily in the summer months, followed by northern divisions VIa (west of Scotland) and VIb (Rockall) in the winter months.

Improvements of Sea Fog Forecasting Based on CMA-TYM

Based on the operational version of the China Meteorological Administration Typhoon Model (CMA-TYM, formerly known as GRAPES_TYM), a series of numerical tests are conducted by optimizing the boundary layer parameterization scheme, vertical resolution, and boundary conditions. Instead of the sea surface temperature (SST) from the Global Forecast System (GFS) model, more accurate daily SST data reflecting the daily SST variation are used as the boundary condition. The new SST dataset is capable of representing the key points in the area, including the low coastal SST related to upwelling, the intrusion of the Yellow Sea (YS) Warm Current, and the ocean front between the YS and the East China Sea. An analysis of the performances of two boundary layer parameterization schemes (the Yonsei University scheme and the Medium-Range Forecast scheme) in characterizing turbulent heat exchange reveals that the former can more accurately reflect offshore turbulence and forecast the fog area. By increasing the number of vertical layers of the model to 68 and reducing the height of the bottom layer to approximately 10 m, the model presents a better performance in simulating the rapid formation and dissipation of sea fog. With the above improvements, the equitable threat score (ETS) for the hindcasting of eleven sea fog cases in the spring of 2018 increases by 61%, mainly due to the increase in the correctly forecasted fog area.

Warmer Pliocene Upwelling Site SST Leads to Wetter Subtropical Coastal Areas: A Positive Feedback on SST

AbstractThe early‐to mid‐Pliocene (5.3–3 Ma), characterized by warmer temperatures and similar CO2 concentrations to present day, is considered a useful analog for future warming scenarios. Geological evidence suggests that during the Pliocene, many modern‐day desert regions received higher levels of rainfall and supported large perennial lakes and wetter vegetation types. These wetter conditions have been difficult to reconcile with model predictions of 21st century drying over most subtropical land regions. Using an atmospheric General Circulation Model, we show that underestimates of Pliocene rainfall over certain areas in models may be related to insufficient sea surface temperature (SST) warmth simulated over relatively local eastern boundary current regions. When SSTs off the coast of California are raised to more closely match some proxy reconstructions, rainfall increases over much of adjacent western North America. Over the southwestern USA, this increased rainfall is mainly due to a convergent monsoonal circulation that develops over late boreal summer. A smaller wintertime increase in precipitation also occurs due to differences in rainfall associated with midlatitude cyclones. Wetter land conditions are expected to weaken upwelling‐favorable coastal winds, so that increased rainfall caused by coastal SST warming suggests a positive feedback that could help sustain wet, Pliocene‐like conditions.

Immense variability in the sea surface temperature near macro tidal flat revealed by high-resolution satellite data (Landsat 8)

Sea surface temperature (SST) is crucial for understanding the physical characteristics and ecosystems of coastal seas. SST varies near the tidal flat, where exposure and flood recur according to the tidal cycle. However, the variability of SST near the tidal flat is poorly understood owing to difficulties in making in-situ observations. The high resolution of Landsat 8 enabled us to determine the variability of SST near the macro tidal flat. The spatial distribution of the SST extracted from Landsat 8 changed drastically. The seasonal SST range was higher near the tidal flat than in the open sea. The maximum seasonal range of coastal SST exceeded 23 °C, whereas the range in the open ocean was approximately 18 °C. The minimum and maximum horizontal SST gradients near the tidal flat were approximately − 0.76 °C/10 km in December and 1.31 °C/10 km in June, respectively. The heating of sea water by tidal flats in spring and summer, and cooling in the fall and winter might result in a large horizontal SST gradient. The estimated heat flux from the tidal flat to the seawater based on the SST distribution shows seasonal change ranging from − 4.85 to 6.72 W/m2.

Seasonal and interannual coastal wind variability off the central Maluku Islands revealed by satellite oceanography

<p>The Maluku Islands (henceforth MI) are situated in the northeastern Indonesia. Ocean region off the central MI is pivotal as it provides a course for the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) through the Lifamatola passage. However, sea surface dynamics off the central MI is unknown until recently due to inadequate measurements. The current fact motivates the present study to decipher the coastal wind variability off the central MI and its effect on the sea surface by analysing long-term datasets (2007-2019) of satellite-derived sea surface wind, sea surface temperature (SST), and surface chlorophyll-a concentration. Possible influence of extreme climate events of the 2015 El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the 2019 Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on all oceanographic parameters was also examined. Results show that the prevailing southeasterly winds over the central MI induce SST cooling and phytoplankton bloom. Correlation analysis revealed that the ENSO and IOD play significant roles in defining spatial distribution of the coastal wind, SST, and phytoplankton bloom in the research area. In addition, the anomaly analysis exhibits distinct oceanographic features during the climate extreme events of 2015 and 2019. Collectively, results of the present research highlight the importance of coastal wind variability and extreme events in shaping the ocean surface characteristics and perhaps regional fisheries production.</p>

Influence of Canary upwelling system on coastal SST warming along the 21st century using CMIP6 GCMs

Climate change is causing the global sea surface temperature (SST) to rise. However, warming rates are lower in coastal areas affected by the upwelling that buffers the SST warming. The influence of the Canary upwelling system on coastal SST throughout the 21st century was analyzed taking advantage of the high spatial resolution of the Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the CMIP6 project to capture upwelling features. Future SST changes were evaluated both on the coast and in their oceanic counterparts under the 5–8.5 socioeconomic pathway scenario. Results showed a latitudinal displacement of the upwelling system to the north by the end of the century. Middle and north latitudes showed a strengthening in the buffering effect of upwelling with a greater influence on the differences between coast and ocean. Oppositely, the southernmost latitudes showed a weakening causing a homogenization of the SST between coast and ocean.