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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, C10001, doi:10.1029/2007JC004630, 2008

Mesoscale eddies and wind variability in the northern Gulf of California

Jorge Lopez-Calderon

Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico


Antonio Martinez

Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico


Adriana Gonzalez-Silvera

Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico


Eduardo Santamaria-del-Angel

Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico


Roberto Millan-Nuñez

Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico


Abstract

Surface mesoscale structures and wind variability in the northern Gulf of California (NGC) were analyzed using data from SeaWiFS (1 km) and QuikSCAT (1 day). The months of February and March were selected as representative of winter and the months of August and September were selected as representative of summer. Chlorophyll-a (Chla) and wind time series were constructed using 16 points to analyze temporal variability and wind magnitude-Chla temporal and spatial linear correlation. Wind components along and across the NGC were found to play an equally significant role regarding wind variability, contrary to what is currently recognized. Wind magnitude tended to be stronger in winter and had less wind direction variability than in summer. A bimodal wind pattern was registered for each season, each wind direction explaining less than 30% of total variability. The zone with minimum variability in wind direction and maximum variability in wind magnitude was located northwest of the NGC, the same area where wind magnitude-Chla correlation was significant (p < 0.05). Winter and summer surface circulation patterns are more complex than currently documented. Summer is characterized by numerous plumes and eddies (especially anticyclonic), some traveling from coast to coast, enhancing the exchange of suspended material. Winter varied greatly interannualy, also showing many plumes and eddies (especially cyclonic), but was very heterogeneous, opposite to summer. Significant summer correlation was mostly positive, whereas in winter the significant correlation was equally positive and negative, maybe as a consequence of higher nutrient availability during this season.

Received 8 November 2007; accepted 18 July 2008; published 4 October 2008.

Keywords: Gulf of California; mesoscale eddies; surface winds; SeaWiFS; QuikSCAT.

Index Terms: 4520 Oceanography: Physical: Eddies and mesoscale processes; 4243 Oceanography: General: Marginal and semi-enclosed seas; 4275 Oceanography: General: Remote sensing and electromagnetic processes (0689, 2487, 3285, 4455, 6934); 4504 Oceanography: Physical: Air/sea interactions (0312, 3339); 4536 Oceanography: Physical: Hydrography and tracers.

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Citation: Lopez-Calderon, J., A. Martinez, A. Gonzalez-Silvera, E. Santamaria-del-Angel, and R. Millan-Nuñez (2008), Mesoscale eddies and wind variability in the northern Gulf of California, J. Geophys. Res., 113, C10001, doi:10.1029/2007JC004630.