A new scientific paper published with the support of iFADO

In: Scientific papers
Dr. André Valente (Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon) is the author of the paper “Decadal changes in temperature and salinity of Central Waters off Western Iberia”.

The paper uses historical ocean vertical profiles to investigate decadal changes in temperature and salinity of Central Waters off the Western coast of Iberian Peninsula between 1955 and 2016. At depths characteristic of Central Waters (200–400 m), the paper shows two colder periods, centred around 1965 and 1980, followed by a warmer period centred around 2008. The salinity follows the temperature behaviour but it is notable a period of high salinity also in early 1970s. The paper also shows a fluctuation of the salinity (and temperature) of the isopycnal of 27.1 kg m3 which was found around 200-400 m. The observed variability was linked to air-sea heat and freshwater fluxes, and the possible mechanisms involved are discussed.

This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2019 granted to MARE. André Valente was also supported by the INTERREG Atlantic Area Cross-border Cooperation Programme project “Innovation in the Framework of the Atlantic Deep Ocean” (iFADO, under contract EAPA 165/2016).

You can assess the paper here.