Cg. Castro et al., HYDROGRAPHIC CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELAXATION OF AN UPWELLING EVENT OFF THE GALICIAN COAST (NW SPAIN), J GEO RES-O, 99(C3), 1994, pp. 5135-5147
During the GALICIA-XI cruise froin May 10 to May 14, 1991 the relaxati
on of a previous strong upwelling event took place along the Galician
coast caused by a shift in the position of the Azores High. The coldes
t temperatures and highest nitrate levels were found near the coast co
rresponding to the advection of subsurface waters, particularly of Eas
tern North Atlantic Water (ENAW). On the basis of thermohaline propert
ies, ENAW of polar (ENAW(p)) and tropical (ENAW(t)) origin are disting
uished. The highest salinity values found correspond to a saline wedge
of ENAW(t) located of the west coast of Galicia. The relaxation of up
welling produced a shoreward migration of surface water from oceanic s
tations which caine into contact with upwelled Eastern North Atlantic
Water from the coastal stations to form a convergence from 28 km off t
he coast. Meanwhile, the saline wedge displaced towards both the north
and the shore which is favored by the compression of the upwelling sy
stem to a narrow coastal strip outwardly limited by the convergence zo
ne.