@article{fdi:010079747,
  title = {3{D} characterisation of the thermohaline structure in the southwestern tropical {A}tlantic derived from functional data analysis of in situ profiles},
  author = {{A}ssuncao, {R}. {V}. and {S}ilva, {A}. {C}. and {R}oy, {A}m{\'e}d{\'e}e and {B}ourl{\`e}s, {B}ernard and {S}ilva, {C}. {H}. {S}. and {T}ernon, {J}ean-{F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {A}raujo, {M}. and {B}ertrand, {A}rnaud},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he dynamic of the thermohaline structure of the upper ocean, which depends on ocean-atmosphere interactions, drives most near surface oceanic processes, including the control of gases and heat fluxes, and nutrient availability in the photic layer. {T}he thermohaline structure of the southwestern tropical {A}tlantic ({SWTA}), a key region for diagnosing variation of the {A}tlantic {M}eridional {O}verturning {C}irculation, has prime impact on global climate. {C}haracterising the thermohaline structure is typically based on the application of classical statistical methods on vertical profiles. {S}uch approach has important limitations since classical methods do not explicitly contemplate the vertical nature of the profiles. {F}unctional {D}ata {A}nalysis ({FDA}) is a new alternative to solve such drawbacks. {H}ere, we apply an {FDA} approach to characterise the 3{D} canonical thermohaline structure of the {SWTA} in austral spring and fall. {O}ur results reveal a clear spatial pattern with the presence of three areas with significantly different thermohaline structure. {A}rea 1, mostly located along the continental slope, reflects the western boundary current system, with low static stability and high frequency of occurrence of barrier layer ({BL}). {C}onversely, {A}rea 2, located along the {F}ernando de {N}oronha chain, presents strong static stability with a well-marked thermocline. {T}his area, under the influence of the eastern {A}tlantic, is characterised by a low {BL} frequency, which is seasonally modulated by the latitudinal oscillation of the {I}ntertropical {C}onvergence {Z}one, controlling the regime of precipitation. {I}n turn, {A}rea 3 behaves as a transition zone between {A}1 and {A}2 with the presence of the water core of maximum salinity in subsurface, and therefore presence of strong-moderate {BL}. {B}eyond this study, {FDA} approach emerges as a powerful way to describe, characterise, classify and compare ocean patterns and processes. {I}t can be applied to in situ data but could also be used to deeply and comprehensively explore ocean model output.},
  keywords = {{T}hermocline ; {B}arrier layer ; {M}ixed layer ; {W}estern boundary current ; {O}cean stratification ; {N}orth {B}razilian {U}ndercurrent system ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {BRESIL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}rogress in {O}ceanography},
  volume = {187},
  numero = {},
  pages = {102399 [171 p.]},
  ISSN = {0079-6611},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102399},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079747},
}