Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Mathematics of Models for Climatology and Environment pp 419–436Cite as

Heat Gain in the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASII,volume 48))

Abstract

It is well recognized that successful modeling of seasonal and long term climate variability requires a good representation of atmosphere-ocean heat exchange, as well as oceanic heat storage and transport. This has motivated the analysis of the main elements of heat transfer in the ocean during the last decades. In this review we look at heat transfer and formation of Warm Water Mass (WWM) in the eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre (NASG), approximately between Cape Vert (15°N) and the Strait of Gibraltar (36°N) and between the African coast and 30°W.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arhan M, Colin de Verdière A, Mémery L (1994) The eastern boundary of the subtropical North Atlantic. J Phys Oceanogr 6:1295–1316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aristegui J, Sangrà P, Hernandez-Leon S, Canton M, Hernandez-Guerra A, Kerling JL (1994) Island-induced eddies in the Canary Islands. Deep-Sea Res 43:1509–1525

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakun A, Nelson CS (1991) The seasonal cycle of wind-stress curl in subtropical eastern boundary current regions. J Phys Oceanogr 21:1815–1834

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton ED (1987) Meanders, eddies and intrusions in the thermocline front off northwest Africa. Oceanol Acta 10:267–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer E, Siedler G (1988) The relative contributions of advection and isopycnal and diapycnal mixing below the subtropical salinity maximum. Deep-Sea Res 35:811–837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bearman PW (1984) Vortex shedding from oscillating bluff bodies. Ann Rev Fluid Mech 6:195–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behringer DW, Stommel H (1981) Annual heat gain of the tropical Atlantic computed from subsurface ocean data. J Phys Oceanogr 11:1393–1398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger E, White R (1972) Periodic flow phenomena. Ann Rev Fluid Mech 4:313–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bindoff NL, McDougall TJ (1994) Diagnosing climate change and ocean ventilation using hydrographie data. J Phys Oceanogr 24:1137–1152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyer DL (1970) Flow past a right circular cylinder in a rotating frame. J Bas Engng 92:430–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyer DL, Davies PA (1982) Flow past a circular cylinder on a /9-plane. Phil Trans R Soc London A306:533–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer DL, Davies PA, Holland WR, Biolley F, Honji H (1987) Stratified rotating flow over and around isolated 3D topography. Phil Trans R Soc London A322:213–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan K, Schroeder E (1960) Seasonal heat storage in the North Atlantic Ocean. J Meteorol 17:670–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryden HL, Pillsbury RD (1990) Measurement of the flow through the Strait of Gibraltar. Adv Water Resources 13:64–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunker AF (1976) Computations of surface energy flux and annual air-sea interaction cycles of the North Atlantic Ocean. Mon Wea Rev 104:1122–1140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carissimo BC, Oort AH, Von der Haar TH (1985) Estimating the meridional energy transports in the atmosphere and oceans. J Phys Oceanogr 15:82–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cessi P (1992) Ventilation of eastern subtropical gyres. J Phys Oceanogr 22:683–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chabert d’Hiéres G, Davies PA, Didelle H (1989) A laboratory study of the lift forces on a moving solid obstacle in a rotating fluid. Dyn Atmos Oceans 13:47–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chopra KP (1973) Atmospheric and oceanic flow problems introduced by islands. Adv Geophys 16:297–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Church JA, Godfrey JS, Jacket DR, McDougall TJ (1991) A model of sea level rise caused by ocean thermal expansion. J Climate 4:438–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colin de Verdière A (1989) On the interaction of wind and buoyancy driven gyres. J Mar Res 47:595–633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csanady GT (1984) Warm water mass formation. J Phys Oceanogr 14:264–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csanady GT (1986) Cross-gyre transports. J Phys Oceanogr 16:1703–1711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csanady GT (1990) The role of the subtropical gyres in the heat balance of the Warmwas-sersphaere. J Mar Systems 1:13–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csanady GT, Pelegri JL (1995) Vorticity balance of boundary currents, J Mar Res 53(2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedosev A (1970) Geostrophic circulation of surface waters on the shelf of northwest Africa. Rapp P V Reun Con Int Explor Mer 159:32–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiekas V, Elken J, Müller TJ, Aitsam A, Zenk W (1992) A view of the Canary Basin thermocline circulation in winter. J Geophys Res 97:12495–12510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foo E (1981) A two-dimensional diabatic isopycnic model simulating the coastal upwelling front. J Phys Oceanogr 11:604–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabric AJ, Garcia L, Van Camp L, Nykjaer L, Eifler W, Schrimpf W (1993) Offshore export of shelf production in the Cape Blanc (Mauritania) Giant Filament as derived from Coastal Zone Color Scanner imagery. J Geophys Res, 98:4697–4712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill AE, Niiler PP (1973) The theory of seasonal variability in the ocean. Deep-Sea Res 20:141–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Greatbatch RJ, Fanning AF, Goulding AG, Levitus S (1991) A diagnosis of interpentadal circulation changes in the North Atlantic. J Geophys Res 96:22009–22023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greatbatch RJ, Xu J (1993) On the transport of volume and heat through sections across the North Atlantic: Climatology and the pentads 1955–1959, 1970–1974. J Geophys Res 98:10125–10143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastenrath S (1980) Heat budget of tropical ocean and atmosphere. J Phys Oceanogr 10:159–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haynes PH, Mclntyre ME (1987) On the evolution of vorticity and potential vorticity in the presence of diabatic heating and frictional or other forces. J Atmos Sci 44:828–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haynes PH, Mclntyre ME (1990) On the conservation and impermeability theorems for potential vorticity. J Atmos Sei 47:2021–2031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hempel G (ed) (1982) The Canary Current: Studies of an upwelling system. Rapp P V Reun Con Int Explor Mer, 180, 455 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Guerra A, Nykjaer L (1995) Sea surface temperature variability off northwest Africa. In preparation

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Guerra A, Aristegui J, Canton M, Nykjaer L (1993) Océanographie features surrounding the Canary Islands as determined using Coastal Zone Color Scanner data. Int J Remote Sensing 14:1431–1437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Guerra A, Pelegri JL, Sangrà P, Nykjaer L (1995) A flow reversal in the Canary Current. In preparation

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsiung J (1986) Mean surface energy fluxes over the global ocean. J Geophys Res 91:10585–10606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang RX (1989a) On the three-dimensional structure of the wind-driven circulation in the North Atlantic. Dyn Atmos Oceans 15:117–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang RX (1989b) The generalized eastern boundary conditions and the three-dimensional structure of the ideal fluid thermocline. J Geophys Res 94:4855–4865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes P, Barton ED (1974) Stratification and water mass structure in the upwelling area off northwest Africa in April/May 1969. Deep-Sea Res 21:611–628

    Google Scholar 

  • Janowitz GS (1986) A surface density and wind-driven model of the thermocline. J Geophys Res 91:5111–5118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones PGW (1972) The variability of océanographie observations off the coast of north-west Africa. Deep-Sea Res 19:405–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Käse RH, Siedler G (1982) Meandering of the subtropical front southeast of the Azores. Nature 300:245–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Käse RH, Zenk W, Sandford TB, Hiller W (1985) Currents, fronts and eddy fluxes in the Canary Basin. Prog Oceanogr 14:231–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Käse RH, Price JF, Richardson RL, Zenk W (1986) A quasi-synoptic survey of the circulation and water mass distribution within the Canary Basin. J Geophys Res 91:9739–9748

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein P, Hua BL (1990) The mesoscale variability of the sea surface temperature: An analytical and numerical model. J Mar Res 48:729–763

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundu PK, Beardsley RC (1991) Evidence of a critical Richardson number in moored measurements during the upwelling season off northern California. J Geophys Res 96:4855–4868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leetmaa A, Bunker AF (1978) Updated charts of the main annual wind stress, convergences in the Ekman layers, and Sverdrup transports in the North Atlantic. J Mar Res 36:311–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitus S (1989a) Interpentadal variability of temperature and salinity at intermediate depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, 1970–74 versus 1055–59. J Geophys Res 94:6091–6131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitus S (1989b) Interpentadal variability of salinity in the upper 150 m of the North Atlantic Ocean, 1970–74 versus 1055–59. J Geophys Res 94:9679–9685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitus S (1989c) Interpentadal variability of temperature and salinity in the deep North Atlantic, 1970–74 versus 1055–59. J Geophys Res 94:16125–16131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitus S (1990) Interpentadal variability of steric sea level and geopotential thickness of the North Atlantic Ocean, 1970–74 versus 1055–59. J Geophys Res 95:5233–5238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luyten J, Stommel H (1986) Gyres driven by combined wind and buoyancy flux. J Phys Oceanogr 16:1551–1560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luyten J, Pedlosky J, Stommel H (1983) The ventilated thermocline. J Phys Oceanogr 13:292–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manriquez M, Fraga F (1982) The distribution of water masses in the upwelling region off northwest Africa in November. Rapp P V Reun Con Int Explor Mer 180:39–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall JC, Nurser A J (1991) A continuously stratified thermocline model incorporating a mixed layer of variable thickness and density. J Phys Oceanogr 21:1780–1792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall JC, Nurser AJ (1992) Fluid dynamics of oceanic thermocline ventilation. J Phys Oceanogr 22:583–595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martel F, Wunsch C (1993) The North Atlantic circulation in the early 1980’s - An estimate from inversion of a finite-difference model. J Phys Oceanogr 23:898–924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClain CR, Firestone J (1993) An investigation of Ekman upwelling in the North Atlantic. J Geophys Res 98:12327–12339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercier H, Ollitrault M, Le Traon PY (1993) An inverse model of the North Atlantic general circulation using Lagrangian float data. J Phys Oceanogr 23:689–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merkine LO, Solan A (1979) The separation of flow past a cylinder in a rotating system. J Fluid Mech 92:381–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikolajewicz W, Santer BD, Maier-Reimer E (1990) Ocean response to climate warming. Nature 348:589–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittelstaedt E (1983) The upwelling area off northwest Africa — A description of phenomena related to coastal upwelling. Prog Oceanogr 12:307–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittelst aedt E (1991) The ocean boundary along the northwest African coast: Circulation and océanographie properties at the sea surface. Prog Oceanogr 26:307–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molina R, Laatzen FL (1986) Corrientes en la region comprendida entre las Islas Canarias orientales, Marruecos y las Islas Madeira. Campana Norcanarias I. Rev Geofisica 42:41–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Molina R, Laatzen FL (1989) Hidrografia en la region canaria. Campana Canarias I. Bol Inst Esp Oceanogr 5:71–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Nurser AJ, Marshall JC (1991) On the relationship between subduction rates and diabatic forcing of the mixed layer. J Phys Oceanogr 21:1793–1802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nykjaer L, Van Camp L (1994) Seasonal and interannual variability of coastal upwelling along northwest Africa and Portugal from 1981 to 1991. J Geophys Res 99:14197–14207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oort AH, Von der Haar TH (1976) On the observed annual cycle in the ocean-atmosphere heat balance over the northern hemisphere. J Phys Oceanogr 6:781–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrilla G, Lavîn A, Bryden H, Garcia M, Millard R (1994) Rising temperatures in the subtropical North Atlantic over the past 35 years. Nature 369:48–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pattiaratchi C, James A, Collins M (1986) Island wakes and headland eddies: a comparison between remotely sensed data and laboratory experiments. J Geophys Res 92:783–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedlosky J (1983) Eastern boundary ventilation and the structure of the thermocline. J Phys Oceanogr 13:2038–2044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedlosky J, Robbins P (1991) The role of finite mixed-layer thickness in the structure of the ventilated thermocline. J Phys Oceanogr 21:1018–1031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelegrí JL, Richman JG (1993) On the role of shear-mixing during transient coastal up-welling. Cont Shelf Res 13:1363–1400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelegri JL, Csanady GT (1994) Diapycnal mixing in western boundary currents. J Geophys Res 99:18275–18304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Rodríguez P, Pelegri JL (1995) Summer-Winter variability in the Cape Vert frontalregion. In preparation Roemmich D, Wunsch C (1985) Two transatlantic sections: meridional circulation and heat flux in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean. Deep-Sea Res 32:619–644

    Google Scholar 

  • Sangrà P (1995) Perturbation de un flujo geofisico (Corriente de Canarias) por un obstâculo (Gran Canaria). Doctoral thesis, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt RW, Bodgen PS, Dorman CE (1989) Evaporation minus precipitation and density fluxes for the North Atlantic. J Phys Oceanogr 19:1208–1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz WJ, McCartney MS (1993) On the North Atlantic circulation. Rev Geophys 31:29–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siedler G, Finke M (1993) Long-period transport changes in the eastern North Atlantic and their simulation by propagating waves. J Geophys Res 98:2393–2406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siedler G, Khuhl A, Zenk W (1987) The Madeira mode water. J Phys Oceanogr 17:1561–1570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siedler G, Zangenberg N, Onken R, Morliere A (1992) Seasonal changes in the tropical Atlantic circulation: observation and simulation of the Guinea Dome. J Geophys Res 97:703–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Speth P, Detlefsen H (1982) Meteorological influences on upwelling off northwest Africa. Rapp P V Reun Con Int Explor Mer 180:29–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterl A, Kattenberg A (1994) Embedding a mixed layer model into an ocean general circulation model of the Atlantic: The importance of surface mixing for heat flux and temperature. J Geophys Res 99:14139–14157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stommel H (1979) Determination of water mass properties of water pumped down from the Ekman layer to the geostrophic flow below. Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 76:3051–3055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stramma L (1984) Geostrophic transport in the Warm Water Sphere of the eastern sub-tropical North Atlantic. J Mar Res 42:537–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stramma L, Isemer HJ (1988) Seasonal variability of meridional temperature fluxes in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. J Mar Res 46:281–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stramma L, Siedler G (1988) Seasonal changes in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. J Geophys Res 93:8111–8118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stramma L, Müller TJ (1989) Some observations of the Azores Current and the North Equatorial Current. J Geophys Res 94:3181–3186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suginohara N, Aoki S (1991) Buoyancy-driven circulation as horizontal convection on ß-plane. J Mar Res 49:295–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sverdrup HU (1947) Wind driven currents in a baroclinic ocean; with application to the equatorial currents of the eastern Pacific. Proc Nat Acad Sci 33:318–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiele G, Roether W, Schlosser P, Kuntz R (1986) Baroclinic flow and transient-tracer fields in the Canary-Cape Verde Basin. J Phys Oceanogr 16:814–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokmakian RT, Challenor PG (1993) Observations in the Canary Basin and the Azores Frontal region using Geosat data. J Geophys Res 98:4761–4773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Camp L, Nykjaer L, Mittelstaedt E, Schlittenhardt P (1991) Upwelling and boundary circulation off northwest Africa as depicted by infrared and visible satellite observations. Progr Oceanogr 26:357–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver A J, Sarachik ES (1991) Evidence for decadal variability in an ocean general circulation model: An advective mechanism. Atmos Ocean 29:197–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver AJ, Aura SM, Myers PG (1994) Interdecadal variability in an idealized model of the North Atlantic. J Geophys Res 99:12423–12441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisse R, Mikolajewicz, Maier-Reimer E (1994) Decadal variability of the North Atlantic in an ocean general circulation model. J Geophys Res 99:12411–12421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams RG (1991) The role of the mixed layer in setting the potential vorticity of the main thermocline. J Phys Oceanogr 21:1803–1814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolansky E, Imberger J, Heron ML (1984) Island wakes in shallow coastal waters. J Geophys Res 89:10533–10569

    Google Scholar 

  • Wooster WS, Bakun A, McLain DR (1976) The seasonal upwelling cycle along the eastern boundary of the North Atlantic. J Mar Res 34:131–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Worthington LV (1959) The 18° water in the Sargasso Sea. Deep Sea Res 5:297–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenk W, Klein B, Schröder M (1991) Cape Verde frontal zone. Deep-Sea Res 38:S505-S530

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    J. L. Pelegrí, P. Sangrà & A. Hernández-Guerra

Authors
  1. J. L. Pelegrí
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Sangrà
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Hernández-Guerra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. de Matemática Aplicada, Fac. Matemáticas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Avd. Complutense, s/n, Madrid, Spain

    Jesús Ildefonso Díaz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Pelegrí, J.L., Sangrà, P., Hernández-Guerra, A. (1997). Heat Gain in the Eastern North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. In: Díaz, J.I. (eds) The Mathematics of Models for Climatology and Environment. NATO ASI Series, vol 48. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60603-8_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60603-8_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64472-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60603-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation