Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-973
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-973
04 Oct 2022
 | 04 Oct 2022

Seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature in the tropical Angolan upwelling system

Mareike Körner, Peter Brandt, and Marcus Dengler

Abstract. The Angolan shelf system represents a highly productive ecosystem. Throughout the year sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are cooler near the coast than further offshore. Lowest SSTs, the strongest cross-shore temperature gradient and maximum productivity occur in austral winter when seasonally prevailing upwelling favourable winds are weakest. Here, we investigate the seasonal mixed layer heat budget to analyse atmospheric and oceanic causes for heat content variability. By using different satellite and in-situ data, we derive monthly estimates of surface heat fluxes, mean horizontal advection and local heat content change. We calculate the heat budgets for the near coastal and offshore regions separately to explore processes that lead to the observed differences. The results show that the net surface heat flux warms the coastal ocean stronger than further offshore thus acting to damp spatial SST differences. Mean horizontal heat advection is dominated by meridional advection of warm water along the Angolan coast. However, its contribution to the heat budget is small. Ocean turbulence data suggests that the heat flux due to turbulent mixing across the base of the mixed layer is an important cooling term. This turbulent cooling that is strongest in shallow shelf regions is capable of explaining the observed negative cross-shore temperature gradient. The residuum of the mixed layer heat budget and uncertainties of budget terms are discussed.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Jan 2023
Seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature in the tropical Angolan Upwelling System
Mareike Körner, Peter Brandt, and Marcus Dengler
Ocean Sci., 19, 121–139, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-121-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-121-2023, 2023
Short summary

Mareike Körner et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-973', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Mareike Körner, 21 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-973', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Nov 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Mareike Körner, 21 Dec 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-973', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Mareike Körner, 21 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-973', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Nov 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Mareike Körner, 21 Dec 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Mareike Körner on behalf of the Authors (21 Dec 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (02 Jan 2023) by Anne Marie Treguier
AR by Mareike Körner on behalf of the Authors (07 Jan 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Jan 2023
Seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature in the tropical Angolan Upwelling System
Mareike Körner, Peter Brandt, and Marcus Dengler
Ocean Sci., 19, 121–139, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-121-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-121-2023, 2023
Short summary

Mareike Körner et al.

Mareike Körner et al.

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The coastal waters off Angola host a productive ecosystem. Here surface waters at the coast are colder than further offshore. We find that surface heat fluxes warm the coastal region stronger than the offshore region and cannot explain the differences. The influence of horizontal heat advection is minor on the surface temperature change. Contrary, ocean turbulence data suggest that cooling associated with vertical mixing is an important mechanism to explain the near coastal cooling.