Observations of the Huelva Cool-Water Tongue

Abstract

Data from near-polar-orbiting satellites and from ship cruises are used to describe the Huelva Cool-Water Tongue under summer conditions. This tongue extends southeasterly along the shelf break off the southwest coast of Spain and is formed as a result of the advection of water upwelled along the Portuguese cost near Faro or near Cabo St. Vicente. Estimates of the southeasterly speed of the flow are 16 to 18 cm/s from the satellite data and 18 to 28 cm/s from geostrophic calculations. A drop in sound speed of 9 m/s was measured across the tongue. Because of the variability of the tongue any environmental prediction of its occurrence should make use of high-resolution satellite data.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 15, 1981
Accession Number
ADA115673

Entities

People

  • Brian Wannamaker

Organizations

  • SACLANT ASW Research Centre

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Continental Shelves
  • Drops
  • Geometry
  • Governments
  • High Resolution
  • Images
  • Isotherms
  • Measurement
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Nato
  • Remote Sensing
  • Ridges
  • Surface Temperature
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Topography
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Oceanography.

Technology Areas

  • Space