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Andrié Chantal, Ternon Jean-François, Bourlès Bernard, Gouriou Yves, Oudot Claude. (1999). Tracer distributions and deep circulation in the western tropical Atlantic during CITHER 1 and ETAMBOT cruises, 1993-1996. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104 (C9), p. 21,195-21,215. ISSN 0148-0227.

Titre du document
Tracer distributions and deep circulation in the western tropical Atlantic during CITHER 1 and ETAMBOT cruises, 1993-1996
Année de publication
1999
Type de document
Article
Auteurs
Andrié Chantal, Ternon Jean-François, Bourlès Bernard, Gouriou Yves, Oudot Claude
Source
Journal of Geophysical Research, 1999, 104 (C9), p. 21,195-21,215 ISSN 0148-0227
The paper prestents CFC and nontransient tracer observations in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean on repeated sections along 7°30°N, the 35°W meridian, and a transect crossing the Ceara Rise. Three World Ocean Circulation Experiment cruises have been carried out in this area, in February-March 1993 (CITHER 1) and September-October 1995 and April-May 1996 (ETAMBOT 1 and 2). Together with the tracer data, the direct current measurements are used to deduce the circulation pathways. The data confirm the principal circulation features of the Upper North Atlantic Deep Water within the area. The Deep Western Boundary Current flows southward to the DWBC reciruclation whose origin appears variable. The largest variability is observed along the 35°W meridional section, where the DWBC bifurcates eastward north of the 3°S but the eastward equatorial flow does not appear to be permanent. At the Middle North Atlantic Deep Water level, CFC distributions exhibit the most important contrast between waters of northern and southern origin. The circulation at the Lower North Atlantic Deep Water level, mainly controlled by topography, looks more permanent because the DBC is regularly observed during the three cruises, and there is no evidence for a northwestward recirculation along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The transient behavior of CFC distributions, which is superimposed on local circulation effects, can be seen clearly through their temporal evolution wihtin the DWBC. The variability of the deep circulation observed during the 1993-1996 interval rules out a dominant variability in response to semi annual forcing. (Résumé d'auteur)
Plan de classement
Dynamique des eaux [032DYNEAU]
Descripteurs
COURANT MARIN ; CIRCULATION PROFONDE ; MASSE D'EAU ; COMPOSE ORGANOCHLORE ; GAZ DISSOUS ; DISTRIBUTION SPATIALE ; BATHYMETRIE ; VARIATION SAISONNIERE ; BASSIN OCEANIQUE ; TOPOGRAPHIE ; PROFIL VERTICAL ; CORRELATION ; SALINITE ; OXYGENE DISSOUS ; TEMPERATURE ; ANALYSE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE ; SILICATE ; DYNAMIQUE DE L'EAU ; TRACEUR OCEANIQUE
Description Géographique
ATLANTIQUE EQUATORIAL
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010023732]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010023732
Contact