@article{fdi:010092149,
  title = {{I}nfluence of river runoff and precipitation on the seasonal and interannual variability of sea surface salinity in the eastern {N}orth {T}ropical {A}tlantic},
  author = {{T}houvenin-{M}asson, {C}. and {B}outin, {J}. and {E}chevin, {V}incent and {L}azar, {A}. and {V}ergely, {J}. {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n tropical regions, the freshwater flux entering the ocean originates primarily from precipitation and, to a lesser extent when considering basin-scale averages, from continental rivers. {N}evertheless, at the regional scale, river flows can have a significant impact on the surface ocean dynamics. {R}iverine freshwater modifies salinity and, therefore, density, stratification, and circulation. {W}ith its particular coastline and high cumulative river discharge, as well as its being in the vicinity of the intertropical convergence zone ({ITCZ}), the eastern part of the {N}orth {T}ropical {A}tlantic (e-{NTA}) region off northwestern {A}frica is a particularly interesting location to study the linkage between precipitation, river outflow, and sea surface salinity ({SSS}). {H}ere, we focus on the regional e-{NTA} {SSS} seasonal cycle and interannual variability and on the impact of using various river runoff and precipitation forcing data sets to simulate {SSS} with a regional model. {T}he simulated {SSS} values are compared with the {C}limate {C}hange {I}nitiative ({CCI}) satellite {SSS} values; in situ {SSS} values from {A}rgo floats, ships, and a coastal mooring; and the {GLORYS} reanalysis {SSS} values. {A}n analysis of the mixed-layer salinity budget is then conducted. {O}verall, the simulations reproduce the seasonal cycle and interannual variability well despite a positive mean model bias north of 15 degrees {N}. {T}he seasonal cycle is impacted by the phasing of the different runoff products. {T}he mixed-layer {SSS} decrease during the rainy season is mainly driven by precipitation followed by runoff by means of horizontal advection and is partly compensated for by vertical mixing. {I}n terms of interannual anomalies, river runoff has a more direct impact on {SSS} than precipitation. {T}his study highlights the importance of properly constraining river runoff and precipitation to simulate realistic {SSS} values and the importance of observing {SSS} in coastal regions to validate such constraints.},
  keywords = {{ATLANTIQUE} ; {ATLANTIQUE} {NORD} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{O}cean {S}cience},
  volume = {20},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {1547--1566},
  ISSN = {1812-0784},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.5194/os-20-1547-2024},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092149},
}