Publications

Chioua, J; Dastis, C; Gonzalez, CJ; Reyes, E; Mananes, R; Ruiz, MI; Alvarez, E; Yanguas, F; Romero, J; Alvarez, O; Bruno, M (2017). Water exchange between Algeciras Bay and the Strait of Gibraltar: A study based on HF coastal radar. ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, 196, 109-122.

Abstract
This study analyses the water mass exchanges at subinertial scale between Algeciras Bay and the adjacent Strait of Gibraltar. The mechanisms triggering this exchange process is investigated with the aid of recently-acquired data on surface currents obtained using a system of HF coastal radars deployed on the eastern side of the Strait, and remotely-sensed images of sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll from the MODIS sensor of the Aqua satellite. HF radar data on surface currents are analyzed by the application of real empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition, which produces three EOF modes explaining more than 70% of the variance of the surface currents at the mouth of the Bay (modes 2, 3, and 6). Mode 2 is related to the fluctuations of the Atlantic Jet in the central zone of the Strait, mainly due to a combined effect of the atmospheric pressure fluctuations in the Western Mediterranean Sea and local wind in the eastern side of the Strait; mode 3 is related to the coastal currents induced by zonal wind forcing on the north-western coast of the Strait and Alboran Sea; and mode 6 seems to be related to water transport induced by winds blowing with a significant north component into and out of the Bay. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI:
10.1016/j.ecss.2017.06.030

ISSN:
0272-7714