Flujos residuales de intercambio entre la Ría de Vigo y la plataforma continental.

Abstract

Current, wind and sea level data were taken in the Ría de Vigo so as to make the first quantitative description of its residual circulation based on direct observations. The study is focused on the exchange of water between the Ría de Vigo and the coastal shelf through the ría two main entrances, the northern mouth and the southern mouth, which took place during a 10-day period. In this period, a strong shift between downwelling 119 B. M. Míguez y otros Flujos residuales de intercambio entre la Ría de Vigo... and upwelling conditions was recorded. Our aim was to analyse the effect of the meteorological context on the vertical velocity profile and on the fluxes of water which entered/exited the ría. Winds were found to drag water out (downwelling) or in (upwelling) the ría through its northern mouth, which featured a very homogeneous vertical velocity profile. In contrast, a two-layered pattern prevailed in the southern mouth. During downwelling, the Ekman transport to the right of the wind entered water to the ría through the southern mouth as a surface layer, partially compensated by the exit of the deep one. During upwelling the situation reversed, the surface layer exiting the ría and being compensated by the uplifting and entrance of deep waters. Residual fluxes showed a strong linear relationship with the meridional component of the wind, Wy, which explained >90% of the fluxes variability. 1.