Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is characterised by large fresh water inputs from two major rivers, the Loire and the Gironde, with a mean discharge of about 900 m3/s. To describe the spatial and temporal variability of the Loire and Gironde plumes, continuous salinity measurements were made at 4 locations on Fre...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2006-06-01
|
| Series: | Scientia Marina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/198 |
| _version_ | 1818719612844376064 |
|---|---|
| author | Pascal Lazure Anne-Marie Jegou Michel Kerdreux |
| author_facet | Pascal Lazure Anne-Marie Jegou Michel Kerdreux |
| author_sort | Pascal Lazure |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Bay of Biscay is characterised by large fresh water inputs from two major rivers, the Loire and the Gironde, with a mean discharge of about 900 m3/s. To describe the spatial and temporal variability of the Loire and Gironde plumes, continuous salinity measurements were made at 4 locations on French coastal islands over periods lasting at least two years. These islands are located at a distance from the large local gradients linked to local inputs. Whereas sea surface salinity in the centre of the Bay of Biscay is 35.6, salinities at the coast vary between about 35 in summer to occasionally less than 30 in late winter or in spring. Minimum salinities do not occur at the same time along the coast, indicating a strong spatial gradient. Near the Loire and Gironde estuaries, a strong temporal correlation between discharges and salinity variation appears. Far from the estuaries, some drops in salinity seem to be correlated with a change of wind regime. In summer, a general decrease from north to south is found along the coast and may be linked to northwesterly wind conditions, which drive surface water to SW of the bay. These data constitute the first set of time series of salinity. They will be pursued to assess the interannual variability which is presumed to be high because of the large variability in river discharges and wind regimes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:09:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36377ce9beaf4021b8bedee21b6c970f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0214-8358 1886-8134 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:09:43Z |
| publishDate | 2006-06-01 |
| publisher | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientia Marina |
| spelling | doaj.art-36377ce9beaf4021b8bedee21b6c970f2022-12-21T21:34:14ZengConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasScientia Marina0214-83581886-81342006-06-0170S171410.3989/scimar.2006.70s17195Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of BiscayPascal Lazure0Anne-Marie Jegou1Michel Kerdreux2IFREMER, Direction de l’Environnement Littoral, Service Applications OpérationnellesIFREMER, Direction de l’Environnement Littoral, Service Applications OpérationnellesIFREMER, Direction de l’Environnement Littoral, Service Applications OpérationnellesThe Bay of Biscay is characterised by large fresh water inputs from two major rivers, the Loire and the Gironde, with a mean discharge of about 900 m3/s. To describe the spatial and temporal variability of the Loire and Gironde plumes, continuous salinity measurements were made at 4 locations on French coastal islands over periods lasting at least two years. These islands are located at a distance from the large local gradients linked to local inputs. Whereas sea surface salinity in the centre of the Bay of Biscay is 35.6, salinities at the coast vary between about 35 in summer to occasionally less than 30 in late winter or in spring. Minimum salinities do not occur at the same time along the coast, indicating a strong spatial gradient. Near the Loire and Gironde estuaries, a strong temporal correlation between discharges and salinity variation appears. Far from the estuaries, some drops in salinity seem to be correlated with a change of wind regime. In summer, a general decrease from north to south is found along the coast and may be linked to northwesterly wind conditions, which drive surface water to SW of the bay. These data constitute the first set of time series of salinity. They will be pursued to assess the interannual variability which is presumed to be high because of the large variability in river discharges and wind regimes.http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/198hydrologysalinityseasonal variabilityriver plumecontinental shelfbay of biscay |
| spellingShingle | Pascal Lazure Anne-Marie Jegou Michel Kerdreux Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay Scientia Marina hydrology salinity seasonal variability river plume continental shelf bay of biscay |
| title | Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay |
| title_full | Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay |
| title_short | Analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay |
| title_sort | analysis of salinity measurements near islands on the french continental shelf of the bay of biscay |
| topic | hydrology salinity seasonal variability river plume continental shelf bay of biscay |
| url | http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/198 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pascallazure analysisofsalinitymeasurementsnearislandsonthefrenchcontinentalshelfofthebayofbiscay AT annemariejegou analysisofsalinitymeasurementsnearislandsonthefrenchcontinentalshelfofthebayofbiscay AT michelkerdreux analysisofsalinitymeasurementsnearislandsonthefrenchcontinentalshelfofthebayofbiscay |