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Inner shelf intrusions of offshore water in an upwelling system affect coastal connectivity
Author(s) -
Nidzieko N. J.,
Largier J. L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2013gl056756
Subject(s) - upwelling , submarine pipeline , geology , oceanography , eddy , plume , front (military) , sea surface temperature , shore , continental shelf , climatology , meteorology , geography , turbulence
Poleward warm water flows around Point Conception are an important transport mechanism linking biogeographic provinces along central California. These flows are initiated by relaxation of upwelling winds; the intensity and duration of upwelling is an important driver of how far north warm water penetrates against the prevailing surface currents. In this paper we present evidence of offshore surface water intrusions to the inner shelf, 130 km north of Point Conception, near Cambria, California. Satellite observations show that the intrusions originate as eddies generated offshore along the upwelling front. These eddies may form as submesoscale instabilities or by interaction of upwelling centers with offshore waters. The intrusions move southern waters to the central California inner shelf further northward than is typical for a coastal relaxation plume, and therefore, inner shelf connectivity and ecology may be governed over timescales and distances longer than those set by the intermittent relaxation of upwelling winds.