Variación estacional de la estructura termo-halina de Golfo Nuevo, Argentina

Abstract

Data on temperature and salinity obtained during 6 occanographic fieldwork cruises at Golfo Nuevo, Argentina, from April 1982 thwugh April 1983 are analyzcd. The basin evolves from a state of almost complete mixing in Hutumn and wiuter, to a state or stratification reaching its maximum values of stability near the end of the summer. These fluctuations of the density field are due almost exclusively to the variations of the thermic field. The balance of heat and salt are discussed equaling the flows through the mouth to the difference between the superficial flows and the quantities stored, finding, for both variables, that the three terms are equally important. Taking into account the horizontal homogeneity of the observations, a unidimensional model with turbulent diffusion and convective mixing forced by the flows through thc surface and the mouth is implemented. The model reproduces very well the variation of thc thermic structure but overestimates the fluctuations of the salinity field.