Ruiz‐Castillo, Eugenio, Sharples, Jonathan 
ORCID: 0000-0002-7031-3593 and Hopkins, Jo
(2019)
Wind‐driven strain extends seasonal stratification
Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (22).
pp. 13244-13252.
ISSN 0094-8276, 1944-8007
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RuizCastillo et al inpress.pdf - Published version Download (8MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The onset and breakdown of stratification are key physical drivers of phytoplankton growth in shelf seas and the open ocean. We show how in the Celtic Sea, where seasonality in stratification is generally viewed as controlled by heat input, a cross-shelf salinity gradient horizontally strained by the wind prolonged the stratified period by 5–6 days in autumn prior to full winter mixing, while in spring caused seasonal stratification to begin 7 days early. Salinity straining has important implications for setting light conditions during the start of the spring bloom and for the timing of bottom-water ventilation in winter. Analysis of winds around the time of likely onset of spring stratification between 1979 and 2016 showed that in 60% of the years' wind conditions were favorable for salinity straining. Accurate knowledge of the horizontal salinity field and wind stress are required to correctly determine the onset and breakdown of stratification.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | wind-driven transport, salinity strain, stratification, shelf seas, Celtic Sea |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Dec 2019 10:03 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 07:08 |
| DOI: | 10.1029/2019gl084540 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084540 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3064057 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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