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Chlorophyll variability in eastern boundary currents
Author(s) -
Thomas A. C.,
Carr M.E.,
Strub P. T.
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1029/2001gl013368
Subject(s) - seawifs , climatology , latitude , southern hemisphere , scatterometer , forcing (mathematics) , northern hemisphere , ekman transport , oceanography , boundary current , geology , current (fluid) , chlorophyll a , environmental science , satellite , atmospheric sciences , ocean current , upwelling , phytoplankton , geodesy , wind speed , chemistry , organic chemistry , aerospace engineering , nutrient , engineering , botany , biology
The first three years of SeaWiFS data (1997–2000) provide the most complete quantification to date of chlorophyll seasonal variability along the full latitudinal extent of the four major eastern boundary currents (EBCs). Comparisons to previously published chlorophyll seasonal climatologies deduced from the relatively sparse coverage provided by the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) show significant differences in both southern hemisphere EBCs, while northern hemisphere regions are qualitatively similar. Comparisons between chlorophyll and cross‐shelf Ekman transport seasonal cycles, calculated from coincident satellite scatterometer data, show seasonal maxima have similar phases over most of the California Current, at higher (>32°S) latitudes in the Peru‐Chile and Benguela Currents (>30°S) and at lowest latitudes (< 20°N) in the Canary Current. Latitudinal zones within which phases diverge are indicative of alternate and/or more distant forcing.