Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight

<p>In the Panama Bight, two different seasonal surface circulation patterns coincide with a strong mean sea level variation, as observed from 27 years of absolute dynamic topography (ADT) and the use of self-organizing maps. From January to April, a cyclonic gyre with a strong southwestward Pa...

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Main Authors: R. R. Torres, E. Giraldo, C. Muñoz, A. Caicedo, I. Hernández-Carrasco, A. Orfila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-05-01
Series:Ocean Science
Online Access:https://os.copernicus.org/articles/19/685/2023/os-19-685-2023.pdf
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author R. R. Torres
E. Giraldo
C. Muñoz
A. Caicedo
I. Hernández-Carrasco
A. Orfila
author_facet R. R. Torres
E. Giraldo
C. Muñoz
A. Caicedo
I. Hernández-Carrasco
A. Orfila
author_sort R. R. Torres
collection DOAJ
description <p>In the Panama Bight, two different seasonal surface circulation patterns coincide with a strong mean sea level variation, as observed from 27 years of absolute dynamic topography (ADT) and the use of self-organizing maps. From January to April, a cyclonic gyre with a strong southwestward Panama Jet Surface Current (PJSC) dominates the basin circulation, forced by the Panama surface wind jet that also produces upwelling, reducing sea surface temperature (SST), increasing sea surface salinity (SSS) and causing an ADT decrease. From June to December, the Choco surface wind jet enhances SST, precipitation and river runoff, which reduces SSS, causing an ADT rise, which in turn forces a weak circulation in the bight, vanishing the PJSC. Interannual variability in the region is strongly affected by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); however this climatic variability does not modify the seasonal circulation patterns in the Panama Bight. In contrast, the positive (negative) ENSO phase increases (decreases) SST and ADT in the Panama Bight, with a mean annual difference of 0.9 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C and 9.6 cm, respectively, between the two conditions, while its effect on SSS is small. However, as the strong seasonal SST, SSS and ADT ranges are up to 2.2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, 2.59 g kg<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> and 28.3 cm, the seasonal signal dominates over interannual variations in the bight.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-95e5eed068694050943793a962d99ceb2023-05-25T09:11:05ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922023-05-011968570110.5194/os-19-685-2023Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama BightR. R. Torres0E. Giraldo1C. Muñoz2A. Caicedo3I. Hernández-Carrasco4A. Orfila5Departamento de Física y Geociencias, Grupo de Investigación en Geociencias GEO4, Universidad del Norte, km 5 vía Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla, ColombiaCentro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas del Pacífico, Dirección General Marítima de Colombia (CCCP-DIMAR), Vía El Morro, Capitanía de Puerto San Andrés de Tumaco, Nariño, ColombiaCentro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas del Pacífico, Dirección General Marítima de Colombia (CCCP-DIMAR), Vía El Morro, Capitanía de Puerto San Andrés de Tumaco, Nariño, ColombiaCentro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas del Pacífico, Dirección General Marítima de Colombia (CCCP-DIMAR), Vía El Morro, Capitanía de Puerto San Andrés de Tumaco, Nariño, ColombiaDepartment of Global Change and Oceanography, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, SpainDepartment of Global Change and Oceanography, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Spain<p>In the Panama Bight, two different seasonal surface circulation patterns coincide with a strong mean sea level variation, as observed from 27 years of absolute dynamic topography (ADT) and the use of self-organizing maps. From January to April, a cyclonic gyre with a strong southwestward Panama Jet Surface Current (PJSC) dominates the basin circulation, forced by the Panama surface wind jet that also produces upwelling, reducing sea surface temperature (SST), increasing sea surface salinity (SSS) and causing an ADT decrease. From June to December, the Choco surface wind jet enhances SST, precipitation and river runoff, which reduces SSS, causing an ADT rise, which in turn forces a weak circulation in the bight, vanishing the PJSC. Interannual variability in the region is strongly affected by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); however this climatic variability does not modify the seasonal circulation patterns in the Panama Bight. In contrast, the positive (negative) ENSO phase increases (decreases) SST and ADT in the Panama Bight, with a mean annual difference of 0.9 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C and 9.6 cm, respectively, between the two conditions, while its effect on SSS is small. However, as the strong seasonal SST, SSS and ADT ranges are up to 2.2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, 2.59 g kg<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> and 28.3 cm, the seasonal signal dominates over interannual variations in the bight.</p>https://os.copernicus.org/articles/19/685/2023/os-19-685-2023.pdf
spellingShingle R. R. Torres
E. Giraldo
C. Muñoz
A. Caicedo
I. Hernández-Carrasco
A. Orfila
Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight
Ocean Science
title Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight
title_full Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight
title_fullStr Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight
title_short Seasonal and El Niño–Southern Oscillation-related ocean variability in the Panama Bight
title_sort seasonal and el nino southern oscillation related ocean variability in the panama bight
url https://os.copernicus.org/articles/19/685/2023/os-19-685-2023.pdf
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