Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Desbiolles F., Blanke B., Bentamy A., Roy Claude. (2016). Response of the Southern Benguela upwelling system to fine-scale modifications of the coastal wind. Journal of Marine Systems, 156, p. 46-55. ISSN 0924-7963.

Titre du document
Response of the Southern Benguela upwelling system to fine-scale modifications of the coastal wind
Année de publication
2016
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000370888600004
Auteurs
Desbiolles F., Blanke B., Bentamy A., Roy Claude
Source
Journal of Marine Systems, 2016, 156, p. 46-55 ISSN 0924-7963
We analyze the results of a regional model of the Southern Benguela upwelling system forced by wind stress fields derived from QuikSCAT observations. Two different horizontal resolutions are considered for the wind stress: QS25 and QS50, corresponding to native 25 and 50 km grids, respectively. The differences between both products highlight the primary importance of fine-scale momentum fluxes for both the structure and intensity of the wind- and wind-curl-driven upwelling. Using QS25, we show that the coastal Ekman transport is reduced, leading to a warmer SST and a reduced oceanic coastal jet. QS25 finer wind stress curl patterns also favor the development of a stronger and shallower poleward undercurrent. The addition of a coastal wind correction to QS25 lets us investigate the possible implications of an imbalance between Ekman transport and Ekman pumping: a wind reduction in the coastal band often reduces the SST cooling, but the two mechanisms compensate each other when the characteristic length scales of the coastal upwelling and the orography-induced wind drop-off are similar.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020] ; Limnologie physique / Océanographie physique [032]
Description Géographique
AFRIQUE DU SUD ; ATLANTIQUE SUD ; BENGUELA
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010066239]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010066239
Contact