HR: 08:15h
AN: OS51D-02 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Surface velocity patterns in the Gulf of California from satellite-tracked drifters
AU: * Lavin, M F
EM: mlavin@cicese.mx
AF: CICESE, Dept. de Oceanografia Fisica, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, BC 22860, Mexico
AU: Niiler, P P
EM: pniiler@ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, 9500 Gillman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0213, United States
AU: Amador, A
EM: aamador@cicese.mx
AF: CICESE, Dept. de Oceanografia Fisica, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, BC 22860, Mexico
AU: Castro, R
EM: rubenc@uabc.mx
AF: Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, UABC, Apartado postal No. 453, Ensenada, BC 22860, Mexico
AU: Beier, E
EM: ebeier@cicese.mx
AF: CICESE, Baja California Sur, Miraflores 334, Fracc. Bella Vista, La Paz, BCS 23050, Mexico
AB: A surface drifter program in the Gulf of California was started in June 2004, with monthly releases from ferries during one year and additional group releases from oceanographic cruises (still underway). A very strong (up to 80 cm/s) inflowing surface current on the mainland side of the Gulf was observed in June 2004 and July 2005, which can carry drifters from the entrance to the Upper Gulf in three weeks. The coastal current lasts a few weeks at most, but transports a large amount of heat into the Gulf, and is probably responsible for the observed progression of the surface isotherms during (climatological) June-July toward the head. Direct observations (CTD+LADCP) show that the coastal current is geostrophic and reaches to ~400 m depth. In July the coastal current disappears and eddies (both cyclonic and anticyclonic) become more evident. By August, these eddies are the dominant circulation feature, with surface currents ~25-50 cm/s, rotation period ~3-5 days and reaching to depths up to 1000 m. The eddy regime lasts until November, then a general surface outflow sets in and lasts until the next spring.
DE: 4223 Descriptive and regional oceanography
DE: 4512 Currents
DE: 4520 Eddies and mesoscale processes
DE: 4528 Fronts and jets
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly