RT Dissertation/Thesis
T1 Characterization of the main Iberian Peninsula and French Atlantic turbid plumes using MODIS satellite data
T2 Caracterización das principais plumas turbias da Península Ibérica e do Atlántico Francés utilizando datos de satélite MODIS
A1 Fernandez Novoa, Diego
K1 2510 Oceanografía
K1 2510.07 Oceanografía Física
AB A river plume can be defined as a water mass with different properties than surrounding ocean water, in terms of salinity, temperature, composition and color, due to the influence of a river discharge. This is because river inputs provide fresh water, nutrients, sediments, organic and inorganic material and/or contaminants, among others, into the ocean, modifying the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the coastal areas under influence. Therefore, plumes play a key role in the affected areas, and hence, the importance to characterize and improve the knowledge on plume dynamics. Plume spreading into the ocean is affected by several forcing, including outflow inertia, rotation force (Coriolis), buoyancy, wind, tides, coastal currents, and in addition, the coastal configuration of each area. Therefore, although some patterns of behavior are common to most plumes, each system can behave different being necessary to analyze each river plume.Salinity is one of the best natural tracers, however it is difficult to sense at useful spatial and temporal scales taking into account that river plumes are characterized by a fine spatial structure able to change rapidly. As alternative, ocean color imagery provided by satellite sensors, as MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data, suppose a very useful tool to river plumes studies due to the high spatial and temporal resolution provided. Ocean color imagery detects a strong signal in the area occupied by the material discharged by the river (turbid plume) whereas the ocean waters not affected by the river discharge have negligible contributions, which allows delimiting the river plume.The main objective of this thesis is to analyze and compare the turbid plumes formed by the main Iberian rivers, in order to determine similarities and differences among them. Five Atlantic rivers (Minho, Douro, Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir) and one Mediterranean river (Ebro) will be considered. Plumes dynamic will be evaluated through synoptic patterns obtained by means of data provided by MODIS sensor onboard the Aqua and Terra satellites. Composite images will be constructed averaging those days characterizing each driving force in order to obtain the mean plume state under each forcing. Then, the study will be expanded to analyze the most important plumes formed in the Atlantic coast of France (Loire and Gironde plumes), which are subject to similar conditions to those plumes formed in the Atlantic coast of Iberian Peninsula. In addition, the influence of the most important teleconnection patterns on them will be also evaluated, as well as the impact of these plumes on the thermohaline properties of seawater.
YR 2018
FD 2018-01-31
LK http://hdl.handle.net/11093/932
UL http://hdl.handle.net/11093/932
LA eng
NO Xunta de Galicia. Plan galego de investigación, innovación e crecemento 2011-2015 (Plan I2C). PRE/2013/395
DS Investigo
RD 15-sep-2024