The Mexican Coastal Current: A subsurface seasonal bridge that connects the tropical and subtropical Northeastern Pacific

Gómez-Valdivia, F.; Parés‐Sierra, Alejandro; Flores-Morales, Ana Laura

doi:10.1016/j.csr.2015.10.010

Cited by 53 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The confluence of this current with a branch of California Current converts the MCP into a transition zone where mesoscale eddies, meanders and filaments are generated (Zamudio et al, 2007;Godínez et al, 2010;Pantoja et al, 2012;Gómez-Valdivia et al, 2015). In addition, the presence of a thermocline dome (106ºW, 18ºN) that plays an important role on the coastal seasonal dynamics off SW Mexico has recently been reported by Gómez-Valdivia et al (2015), who proposed calling it "The Thermocline Cabo Corrientes Dome". Based on this information, the objective of this study is to provide an integrated perspective of the Mexican Central Pacific that includes the response of zooplankton, phytoplankton biomass (Chl-a) and nutrients to the spatial-temporal hydrological variability in the region.…”

Section: _____________________mentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical, chemical and zooplankton biomass variability (inshore offshore) of Mexican Central Pacific during El Nino La Nina 2010

Pelayo-Martínez¹,

Olivos-Ortíz²,

Franco-Gordo³

et al. 2017

lajar

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ABSTRACT. The response of zooplankton, phytoplankton biomass (Chl-a concentration) and nutrients to the oceanographic variability in the Mexican Central Pacific was studied over three oceanographic surveys realized in 2010 (January, May and October). The highest zooplankton biomass (48 mL 1000 m -3 ) was registered in May when nitrites, nitrates, phosphates and silicates were also highest and mean Chl-a was 0.67 mg m -3. The lowest zooplankton biomass was registered in October, with a mean value of 25 mL 1000 m -3. Twenty-nine taxonomic groups of zooplankton were recorded, of which copepods contributed 71% of total abundance followed by chaetognaths (6%) and euphausiids (5%). Multivariate BEST test demonstrated that mixed layer depth and temperature at 25 m depth can explain the distribution of major zooplankton groups. The study area was influenced by El Niño conditions, which caused a seasonal shift. Coastal upwelling was evident until late summer, when geostrophic analysis showed a predominant SW component near the Jalisco coast. We suggest a possible top-down control of zooplankton grazing over phytoplankton, and acclimatization of both plankton groups to variability in environmental conditions induced by the transition from warm to cold ENSO phase.

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Section: _____________________mentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical, chemical and zooplankton biomass variability (inshore offshore) of Mexican Central Pacific during El Nino La Nina 2010

Pelayo-Martínez¹,

Olivos-Ortíz²,

Franco-Gordo³

et al. 2017

lajar

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“…Moreover, Gómez‐Valdivia et al . [], hereinafter GOV2015, evidence a semiannual component that dominates the subsurface seasonal variability along the tropical Pacific off Mexico. The energetic semiannual variability off SW Mexico is induced by, previously observed [ Flores‐Morales et al ., ], semiannual equatorial Kelvin waves that reach the coast and propagate poleward as Semiannual Coastal‐Trapped Waves (SCTW) (GOV2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semiannual variability of the California Undercurrent along the Southern California Current System: A tropical generated phenomenon

Gómez-Valdivia

Parés‐Sierra²,

Flores-Morales³

2017

J. Geophys. Res. Oceans

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We used a high‐resolution numerical model implementation to analyze the California Undercurrent (CU) dynamics along the Southern California Current System. In agreement with reported observations, the modeled CU was stronger during June–July and December–January, when it flowed continuously along Baja California and Southern California reaching long‐term averages up to 6 cm s−1. Previous research has associated the biannual CU intensification to the local dynamics off Southern California. Our results evidenced, however, that the passage of remote Semiannual Coastal‐Trapped Waves (SCTW) primarily explained the semiannual CU variability. The CU was stronger 2–3 months after the passage of the upwelling SCTW phase, when the offshore propagation of Rossby waves, brought about by the SCTW transit, induced an energetic cross‐shore pressure gradient that strengthened the subsurface poleward circulation along the continental slope. The SCTW were independent of the local wind; they corresponded to the northward extension of semiannual equatorial Kelvin waves that have been observed along the northeastern tropical Pacific.

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“…At seasonal scale, the circulation in this area is dominated by the confluence of the equatorwardflowing tropical extension of the California Current [hereinafter called the tropical branch of the California Current, as in Godínez et al (2010)] and the polewardflowing Mexican Coastal Current (MCC; Lavín et al 2006;Gómez-Valdivia et al 2015). The latter has been found to be controlled by an annual long Rossby wave forced locally by the wind stress curl and remotely by radiation from the coast .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Masses and Circulation in the Tropical Pacific off Central Mexico and Surrounding Areas

Portela

Beier

Barton

et al. 2016

Journal of Physical Oceanography

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The seasonal variations and the interactions of the water masses in the tropical Pacific off central Mexico (TPCM) and four surrounding areas were examined based on an extensive new hydrographic database. The regional water masses were redefined in terms of absolute salinity (S A ) and conservative temperature (Q) according to the Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater 2010 (TEOS-10). Hydrographic data and the evaporation minus (precipitation 1 runoff) balance were used to investigate the origin and seasonality of two salinity minima in the area. The shallow (50-100 m) salinity minimum originates with the California Current System and becomes saltier as it extends southeastward and mixes with tropical subsurface waters while the surface salinity minimum extends farther north in the TPCM in summer and fall because of the northward advection of tropical surface waters. The interactions between water masses allow a characterization of the seasonal pattern of circulation of the Mexican Coastal Current (MCC), the tropical branch of the California Current, and the flows through the entrance of the Gulf of California. The seasonality of the MCC inferred from the distribution of the water masses largely coincides with the geostrophic circulation forced by an annual Rossby wave.

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The Mexican Coastal Current: A subsurface seasonal bridge that connects the tropical and subtropical Northeastern Pacific

Cited by 53 publications

References 41 publications

Physical, chemical and zooplankton biomass variability (inshore offshore) of Mexican Central Pacific during El Nino La Nina 2010

Physical, chemical and zooplankton biomass variability (inshore offshore) of Mexican Central Pacific during El Nino La Nina 2010

Semiannual variability of the California Undercurrent along the Southern California Current System: A tropical generated phenomenon

Water Masses and Circulation in the Tropical Pacific off Central Mexico and Surrounding Areas

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