How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?

To highlight the processes by which the Niger River warms the coastal waters in the eastern part of the northern Gulf of Guinea upwelling, two simulations of the NEMO model at high resolution were used over the period 2010 - 2017. The first simulation is realistic while the second is a simulation in...

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Main Authors: G. D. A. Topé, G. Alory, S. Djakouré, C.Y. Da-Allada, J. Jouanno, G. Morvan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1187202/full
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author G. D. A. Topé
G. D. A. Topé
G. Alory
S. Djakouré
S. Djakouré
C.Y. Da-Allada
C.Y. Da-Allada
C.Y. Da-Allada
J. Jouanno
G. Morvan
author_facet G. D. A. Topé
G. D. A. Topé
G. Alory
S. Djakouré
S. Djakouré
C.Y. Da-Allada
C.Y. Da-Allada
C.Y. Da-Allada
J. Jouanno
G. Morvan
author_sort G. D. A. Topé
collection DOAJ
description To highlight the processes by which the Niger River warms the coastal waters in the eastern part of the northern Gulf of Guinea upwelling, two simulations of the NEMO model at high resolution were used over the period 2010 - 2017. The first simulation is realistic while the second is a simulation in which the effects of the Niger River are not taken into account. The first step was to evaluate the outputs of the models, using satellite products and in situ observations. The average states of the Sea Surface Temperature, Salinity, Height, zonal current and vertical profiles of temperature and salinity showed the ability of the model to reproduce correctly the physical characteristics of the study area. The analysis of the heat balance terms of the two simulations showed that vertical diffusion and meridional advection processes are the causes of the warming induced by the Niger River. The stratification and vertical shear of the horizontal currents reveal that the river acts by inhibiting the upwelling of cold water induced by vertical diffusion. The river reinforces the stratification and prevents vertical shearing of horizontal currents at the bottom of the mixed layer.
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spelling doaj.art-600a9f37f7fa42f6a973314450bf06012023-05-19T04:56:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-05-011010.3389/fmars.2023.11872021187202How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?G. D. A. Topé0G. D. A. Topé1G. Alory2S. Djakouré3S. Djakouré4C.Y. Da-Allada5C.Y. Da-Allada6C.Y. Da-Allada7J. Jouanno8G. Morvan9International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Application (ICMPA)-UNESCO Chair/University of Abomey Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, BeninLaboratory of Matter, Environment and Solar Energy Sciences, Félix Houphouët Boigny University in Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireCentre National d’Etudes Spatiales CNES, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), University of Toulouse, Toulouse, FranceInternational Chair in Mathematical Physics and Application (ICMPA)-UNESCO Chair/University of Abomey Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, BeninLaboratory of Matter, Environment and Solar Energy Sciences, Félix Houphouët Boigny University in Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireInternational Chair in Mathematical Physics and Application (ICMPA)-UNESCO Chair/University of Abomey Calavi (UAC), Cotonou, BeninLaboratoire de Géosciences, de l’Environnement et Applications (LaGEA)/Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics (ENSTP)/Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques (UNSTIM), Abomey, BeninLaboratoire d’Hydrologie Marine et Côtiére (LHMC)/Institut de Recherche Halieutique et Océanologique du Benin (IRHOB), Cotonou, BeninCentre National d’Etudes Spatiales CNES, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), University of Toulouse, Toulouse, FranceCentre National d’Etudes Spatiales CNES, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), University of Toulouse, Toulouse, FranceTo highlight the processes by which the Niger River warms the coastal waters in the eastern part of the northern Gulf of Guinea upwelling, two simulations of the NEMO model at high resolution were used over the period 2010 - 2017. The first simulation is realistic while the second is a simulation in which the effects of the Niger River are not taken into account. The first step was to evaluate the outputs of the models, using satellite products and in situ observations. The average states of the Sea Surface Temperature, Salinity, Height, zonal current and vertical profiles of temperature and salinity showed the ability of the model to reproduce correctly the physical characteristics of the study area. The analysis of the heat balance terms of the two simulations showed that vertical diffusion and meridional advection processes are the causes of the warming induced by the Niger River. The stratification and vertical shear of the horizontal currents reveal that the river acts by inhibiting the upwelling of cold water induced by vertical diffusion. The river reinforces the stratification and prevents vertical shearing of horizontal currents at the bottom of the mixed layer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1187202/fullcoastal upwellingNiger river plumeGulf of Guineaheat balancetropical Atlantic
spellingShingle G. D. A. Topé
G. D. A. Topé
G. Alory
S. Djakouré
S. Djakouré
C.Y. Da-Allada
C.Y. Da-Allada
C.Y. Da-Allada
J. Jouanno
G. Morvan
How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?
Frontiers in Marine Science
coastal upwelling
Niger river plume
Gulf of Guinea
heat balance
tropical Atlantic
title How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?
title_full How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?
title_fullStr How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?
title_full_unstemmed How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?
title_short How does the Niger river warm coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Guinea?
title_sort how does the niger river warm coastal waters in the northern gulf of guinea
topic coastal upwelling
Niger river plume
Gulf of Guinea
heat balance
tropical Atlantic
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1187202/full
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