HYDROGRAPHY OF THE ARTABRO GULF IN SUMMER - WESTERN COASTAL LIMIT OF CANTABRIAN SEAWATER AND WIND-INDUCED UPWELLING AT PRIOR CAPE

The Artabro Gulf (1 500 km(2) north-west of the Iberian Peninsula) has been studied based on data obtained in August 1993, under typical sum mer meteorological conditions (COPLA 893 cruise). This is the first st udy on the summer hydrography of the Artabro Gulf. During this season, the hydrography of this area is quite complex and must be understood in terms of three factors: 1) upwelling, 2) two different eastern Nort h Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) water masses and 3) rias water exchan ge. A local wind-induced upwelling of ENACW, (subpolar) occurs off Pri or Cape. The plume is located off the gulf coastline, but inside the c ontinental shelf. The frontal zone, rich in nutrients and chlorophyll, is parallel to the gulf line, starting in the Prior region and ending at the convergence of ENACW(p) and ENACW, (subtropical), giving it an arched shape. The Artabro Gulf is the place off the Galicia coast whe re ENACW(t), and ENACWp are observed and the gulf is the western limit of coastal Cantabrian Sea influence. The upwelling is strongly influe nced by the topographic presence of the gulf which generates an 'upwel ling shadow' where the rias water exchange is confined near the coast and the ENACW, does not penetrate into the rias. The opposite occurs a t the southernmost Rias Bajas, where ENACW, upwells inside the rias. ( C) Elsevier, Paris