HR: 1330h
AN: OS32B-0243    [PDF]
TI: Water Temperature Variability Along the West Coast of the Gulf of California
AU: * God¡nez, L
EM: lorta@ipn.mx
AF: CICIMAR-IPN, Ave. IPN s/n Apdo. postal 592, La Paz, 23000 Mexico
AU: Gutierrez de Velasco, G
EM: ggutierr@cicese.mx
AF: CICESE-LA PAZ, Miraflores No. 334, La Paz, 23050 Mexico
AU: Halfar, J
EM: jochen@pangea.stanford.edu
AF: Institute fur Geologie und Palaontology, Universitat Stuttgart, Herdweg 51, Stuttgart, 70174 Germany
AU: Valdez, J E
EM: jvaldez@guayacan.uson.mx
AF: DICTUS, Rosales y Ni¤os Heroes s/n, Hermosillo, 83000 Mexico
AU: Borges, J M
EM: bosm010371@hotmail.com
AF: CICIMAR-IPN, Ave. IPN s/n Apdo. postal 592, La Paz, 23000 Mexico
AB: The seawater temperature variability along the west coast of the Gulf of California for the time period March 2002 to March 2003 is discussed. The observations used for the analysis correspond to hourly samples at 10, 15, 20, and 25 m depths from moorings deployed in 35 m total depth at four locations along the west gulf coast, from its mouth to Ballenas channel: Cabo Pulmo ($23\deg$ 23' N, $109\deg$ 25 W), Isla Esp\'{i}ritu Santo ($24\deg$ 33' N, $110\deg$ 24' W), Punta Chivato ($27\deg$ 04' N, $111\deg$ 58' W), and Bah\'{i}a de los \'{A}ngeles ($28\deg$ 58' N, $113\deg$ 31' W). Mean sea water temperatures increase along the gulf from the temperate north region to the subtropical gulf entrance (17 to $26\deg$C). Temperature variability shows periodicities ranging from the seasonal to the semi-diurnal frequencies with decreasing amplitudes as frequency increases. Temperature seasonal cycle changes along the Gulf coast. Its amplitude diminishes from north to south were maximum temperature values are reached about 30 days later. Maximum and minimum values in the cycle increase northward; in contrast to the southward decreasing amplitude. Frequencies higher than seasonal exhibit two distinct patterns: An active spring and summer period and a quiet fall and winter one. During spring and summer vertical temperature differences increase and variability is dominated by 2 to $5\deg$ C amplitude oscillations at diurnal, 5 to 7 day, and quarterly frequencies. Fall and winter exhibit an almost constant vertical temperature distribution with weak oscillations ($<1\deg$ C amplitude) at the same frequencies.
DE: 4227 Diurnal, seasonal, and annual cycles
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting