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An overview of the oceanography and meteorology of the Falkland Islands
Author(s) -
Upton J.,
Shaw C.J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.496
Subject(s) - oceanography , current (fluid) , submarine pipeline , drilling , geology , structural basin , ocean current , meteorology , environmental science , geography , engineering , mechanical engineering , paleontology
1. This paper describes an overview of the oceanography and meteorology of the Patagonian Shelf and Falkland Islands, derived from reference material and a 16 month measurement program carried out on behalf of the Falklands Operators Sharing Agreement (FOSA) between June 1997 and October 1998. It was not intended that the referenced information in this presentation be exhaustive, the bias has been placed on describing the measurement survey. 2. Due to commercial confidentiality, presentations of data measured during the survey have been limited to time series and statistics. However, the confidentiality of the data does not necessarily preclude use of the data for future research purposes. 3. The analysis of current, tide, wave, wind and meteorological data is described and the nature of mechanisms driving the current and wave regime are suggested. 4. Offshore oceanographic measurements were carried out at three locations prior to a drilling programme by the semi‐submersible drilling rig Borgny Dolphin and on board whilst drilling. Meteorological measurements were performed at two locations on the Islands and on the Borgny Dolphin. Drifting buoys were deployed and conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) measurements were carried out to determine the position and intra‐annual variation of the Falklands Current in the North Falklands Basin. 5. The primary oceanographic current flow features of this area are the Brazil and Falklands Currents, which meet at a confluence off the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay. The position of the front varies between approximately 30 and 40°S, depending on changes in the relative strength of the two current systems. Current flows are stronger on the slope than on the Continental Shelf and are less tidally dominated. Although it is thought that the FOSA mooring locations were influenced by the margins of the Falklands Current, stronger flows have been reported to the north of the measurement location. Typical maximum recorded near‐surface currents reached 0.8 ms −1 , with near‐bed maxima reaching 0.55 ms −1 . 6. The wave climate was primarily driven by locally derived storms, resulting in events of short duration. Typical maximum significant wave heights of 8.9 and 9.4 m were recorded to the north and south of the Islands, respectively. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.