Interannual Variability of Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Temperature

in the Western North Atlantic Shelfand Slope, 1985-1999

Anne-Marie Brunner

and Jim Bisagni

University of Massachusetts, DartmouthSchool for Marine Science & Technology,

Department of Estuarine & Ocean Sciences

3

Adapted from Drinkwater et al. (1999).

11 22

33 44

55 66

Propagation of the 1997/1998 “Cold Event” in satellite derived SST

-0.107-0.105-0.0660.000W4

0.0770.044-0.151 (p<0.05)

-0.115(p<0.1)

W3

-0.0560.025-0.172 (p<0.025)

-0.017W 2

0.119(p<0.1)

-0.146 (p<0.05)

0.0810.296 (p<0.0001)

W 1

-0.207 (p<0.01)

-0.243 (p<0.0001)

-0.0570.324 (p<0.0001)

Qnet 4

-0.195 (p<0.025)

0.147 (p<0.05)0.163 (p<0.05)

-0.076Qnet 3

-0.075-0.0480.03-0.061Qnet 2

-0.0080.0170.004-0.099Qnet 1

0.324 (p<0.0001)

0.0310.119 (p<0.1)

0.017NAO

SST 4SST 3SST 2SST 1

Correlation Coeff. R

Comparison of Offshelf EOF results with GSNW

Summary• We can track intrusions of LSW into the Slope Sea using satellite-

derived SST.

• Low correlation and significance levels suggest that other

mechanisms besides climate-related variability of surface forcing from

wind magnitude and net heatflux related to the NAO are important in

the shelf-slope region of the western North Atlantic ocean.

• Evidence points to other mechanisms that may include horizontal

advection and vertical mixing and may play a large role in controlling

IAV of SST.

• Influence of position of the Gulfstream onto offshore seasurface

temperature varies along the western North Atlantic shelf and slope;

maybe indicating co-variation between the polar and subpolar gyres.

0.5

2.250.153 0.43-0.072 0.38-0.061

SSTMode 3

 0.070.033 0.000.002

0.1001.40-0.121SSTMode 2

 0.33-0.063 0.510.072 0.480.071

SSTMode 1

Wind

 0.550.0730.0104.68-0.222

 0.000.001SSTMode 3

0.2000.91-0.103 0.48-0.072 0.010.011

SSTMode 2

 0.030.023 0.06-0.022

0.2001.09-0.101SSTMode 1

Qnet

 0.130.0430.1001.42-0.122

 0.080.031SST

0.34-0.0630.00121.62-0.4720.0105.39-0.231

Wind

 0.29-0.053 0.08-0.032

0.00114.98-0.391Qnet

NAO

P< R^2 [%]RMode   Correlation Table

Comparison of Offshelf EOF Results with GSNW