Arnault Sabine auteur aut IRD Thiria S. auteur aut IRD Crepon M. auteur aut IRD Kaly F. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The western tropical Atlantic Ocean is a very energetic and highly variable region. It is one of the main contributors to the interhemispheric mass and heat transports. This study aim is to give a new picture of the space and time variability of this region using statistical tools applied to five different satellite measurements (Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Surface Salinity, ocean topography, wind stress vectors). We first processed each data set by using a Self-Organizing Maps (SOM), which is an efficient clustering methodology based on non-linear artificial neural networks to compress the information embedded in the data. The SOM was then combined with a Hierarchical Ascendant Classification (HAC) to cluster the different phenomena in a small number of classes whose physical characteristics are easy to identify. Three classes were identified which allowed us to analyse the dynamics of the North Brazil Current, and the North Equatorial Countercurrent, respectively, and their links with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and the Amazon and Orinoco river runoffs. The SOM + HAC analysis gave a coherent picture of the concomitant seasonal variability of the variables. Furthermore, we were able to point out the correlations existing between salinity features recently discovered and wind, temperature, and dynamic topography structures. Applying our method to the interannual signals, we showed a year to year variability which deserves further analysis. specialized Atlantic North Brazil Current Machine learning self-organizing map Satellite observations ATLANTIQUE ZONE TROPICALE 126 122 032 Benveniste J. ed. edt IRD Bonnefond P. ed. edt IRD 68 2 No Spécial 467-486 2021 0273-1177 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082142 10.1016/j.asr.2020.09.044 0273-1177 [F B010082142] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082142 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2021-08/010082142.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2021-08-31 2025-02-24 fdi:010082142 fre