Coastal Ocean Circulation Experiment off Senegal (COCES - II)
Abstract
The long-term goal is to investigate the dynamics of coastal areas dominated by buoyancy input and wind forcing, influenced by complex topography and interacting with the deep ocean and to improve the understanding of coastal marine environmental evolution, with particular emphasis on eddy dynamics. The general objective of COCES-II is to investigate the coastal dynamics off the coast of Senegal, a region strongly dominated by coastal upwelling. Specific goals are: 1. to construct unbiased statistics of near surface circulation; 2. to describe the upwelling circulation features; 3. to simulate the coastal circulation with a numerical model and 4. to train local Senegalese oceanographers (capacity building). COCES-II is the continuation of the COCES project. It aims to consolidate the longer term cooperation between US, European and Senegalese scientists to study the North Atlantic off the west African coast. Surface drifters are deployed off the coast of Senegal on a continuous monthly basis for at least a year, with an intensification period in winter/spring to better sample the upwelling circulation features. The drifter data are analyzed in conjunction with ancillary in-situ data (ship-based CTD and ADCP) and satellite images of sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll concentration (<Chl>) and sea level height (SSH). Numerical model simulations are performed with ROMS and are compared to the observations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA598661
Entities
People
- Pierre-Marie Poulain