Abstract
Using underwater gliders we have identified canyon driven upwelling across the Celtic Sea shelf-break, in the vicinity of Whittard Canyon. The presence of this upwelling appears to be tied to the direction and strength of the local slope current, which is in itself highly variable. During typical summer time equatorward flow, an unbalanced pressure gradient force and the resulting disruption of geostrophic flow can lead to upwelling along the main axis of two small shelf break canyons. As the slope current reverts to poleward flow, the upwelling stops and the remnants of the upwelled features are mixed into the local shelf water or advected away from the region. The upwelled features are identified by the presence of sub-pycnocline high salinity water on the shelf, and are upwelled from a depth of 300 m on the slope, thus providing a mechanism for the transport of nutrients across the shelf break onto the shelf.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7575-7588 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans |
Volume | 121 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 18 Oct 2016 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Glider observations of enhanced deep water upwelling at a shelf break canyon: A mechanism for cross-slope carbon and nutrient exchange'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Profiles
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Dmitry Aleynik
- SAMS UHI - Marine Modeller
- Energy Innovation Team
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only
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Andrew Dale
- SAMS UHI - Numerical Modeller
- Aquaculture Research Network
- Energy Innovation Team
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only