Variations in the Malvinas Current volume transport since October 1992

Spadone, Aurélie; Provost, Christine

doi:10.1029/2008jc004882

Cited by 47 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Direct current observations near 41.5 • S show that the along shelf flow presents substantial variability in the 50-70 day band (Vivier and Provost, 1999). More recent studies also suggest a large variability in surface velocity (−10 to 30 cm s −1 ), volume transport (15 to 50×10 −6 m 3 s −1 ), and ∼50 km cross-shore fluctuations of the location of the MC core (Spadone and Provost, 2009). Thus, the intensity of the thermohaline anomalies induced by slope water intrusions may be modulated by the strength and location of the Malvinas Current.…”

Section: Genesis Of Slope Water Intrusionsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Malvinas-slope water intrusions on the northern Patagonia continental shelf

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The Patagonia continental shelf located off southeastern South America is bounded offshore by the Malvinas Current, which extends northward from northern Drake Passage (∼55 • S) to nearly 38 • S. The transition between relatively warm-fresh shelf waters and Subantarctic Waters from the western boundary current is characterized by a thermohaline front extending nearly 2500 km. We use satellite derived sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll-a data combined with hydrographic and surface drifter data to document the intrusions of slope waters onto the continental shelf near 41 • S. These intrusions create vertically coherent localized negative temperature and positive salinity anomalies extending onshore about 150 km from the shelf break. The region is associated with a center of action of the first mode of nonseasonal sea surface temperature variability and also relatively high chlorophyll-a variability, suggesting that the intrusions are important in promoting the local development of phytoplankton. The generation of slope water penetrations at this location may be triggered by the inshore excursion of the 100 m isobath, which appears to steer the Malvinas Current waters over the outer shelf.

show abstract

Section: Genesis Of Slope Water Intrusionsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Malvinas-slope water intrusions on the northern Patagonia continental shelf

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The MC transports northward cold (u , 78C) and fresh (S , 34.3) water of largely subantarctic origin. The transport of the MC along the Patagonian continental slope has been estimated from current meters to be 30.8 6 6 Sv in 1993-95 (Vivier and Provost 1999) and 33.3 6 7 Sv in 2001-03 (Spadone and Provost 2009), with significant annual and semiannual variations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Circulation and Water Mass Modification in the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence

Jullion

Heywood

Garabato

et al. 2010

Journal of Physical Oceanography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The confluence between the Brazil Current and the Malvinas Current [the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC)] in the Argentine Basin is characterized by a complicated thermohaline structure favoring the exchanges of mass, heat, and salt between the subtropical gyre and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Analysis of thermohaline properties of hydrographic sections in the BMC reveals strong interactions between the ACC and subtropical fronts. In the Subantarctic Front, Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), and Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) warm (become saltier) by 0.48 (0.08), 0.38 (0.02), and 0.68C (0.1), respectively. In the subtropical gyre, AAIW and North Atlantic Deep Water have cooled (freshened) by 0.48 (0.07) and 0.78C (0.11), respectively.To quantify those ACC-subtropical gyre interactions, a box inverse model surrounding the confluence is built. The model diagnoses a subduction of 16 6 4 Sv (1 Sv [ 10 6 m 3 s 21 ) of newly formed SAMW and AAIW under the subtropical gyre corresponding to about half of the total subduction rate of the South Atlantic found in previous studies. Cross-frontal heat (0.06 PW) and salt (2.4 3 10 12 kg s 21 ) gains by the ACC in the BMC contribute to the meridional poleward heat and salt fluxes across the ACC. These estimates correspond to perhaps half of the total cross-ACC poleward heat flux. The authors' results highlight the BMC as a key region in the subtropical-ACC exchanges.

show abstract

“…The Malvinas Current (MC) is a swift, barotropic, and narrow branch of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that flows north along the continental slope of Argentina up to approximately 38 • S (Matano et al, 1993). Its volume transport ranges between 40 and 70 Sv (Peterson, 1992;Spadone and Provost, 2009). The Brazil Current (BC) is a highly baroclinic western boundary current that concentrates the bulk of its volume transport, between 25 and 40 Sv, in the top 500 m of the water column (Piola and Matano, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of the Brazil and Malvinas Currents on the Southwestern Atlantic Shelf circulation

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The oceanic circulation over the southwestern Atlantic shelf is influenced by large tidal amplitudes, substantial freshwater discharges, high wind speeds and -most importantly -by its proximity to two of the largest western boundary currents of the world ocean: the Brazil and Malvinas currents. This review article aims to discriminate the dynamical processes controlling the interaction between this extensive shelf region and the deep-ocean. The discussion is focused on two broad regions: the South Brazil Bight to the north, and Patagonia to the south. The exchanges between the Brazil Current and the South Brazil Bight are characterized by the intermittent development of eddies and meanders of the Brazil Current at the shelfbreak. However, it is argued that this is not the only -nor the most important -influence of the Brazil Current on the shelf. Numerical simulations show that the thermohaline structure of the South Brazil Bight can be entirely ascribed to steady state, bottom boundary layer interactions between the shelf and the Brazil Current. The Malvinas Current does not show the development of eddies and meanders, but its influence on the Patagonian shelf is not less important. Models and observations indicate that the Malvinas Current not only controls the shelfbreak dynamics and cross-shelf exchanges but also influences the circulation in the shelf's interior.

show abstract

Variations in the Malvinas Current volume transport since October 1992

Cited by 47 publications

References 47 publications

Malvinas-slope water intrusions on the northern Patagonia continental shelf

Malvinas-slope water intrusions on the northern Patagonia continental shelf

Circulation and Water Mass Modification in the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence

The influence of the Brazil and Malvinas Currents on the Southwestern Atlantic Shelf circulation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About