Sea
Level variability
along
the
Ecuador-Peru-Chile
coasts,
interaction
with the
equatorial
Kelvin waves
and
the
Antarctic
Circumpolar Current.
JASON 1 PROPOSAL
ACCEPTED APRIL 1998 by NASA/CNES
I. COVER LETTER
This is a collaborative
proposal, in order to launch a collaborative study between universities and
specific programs within Latin America and fellows in Europe and North America.
The aim of the principal investigator, Dr. Rodrigo Abarca del Rio is to gave
the possibility to this Latin American proposal to have the possibility to use
freely the Jason-1 data and be officialised as a Jason-1 Latin American study
group of the Eastern Southern Pacific oceanic variability (Ecuador-Peru-Chile
coast).
II. TABLE OF CONTENT
I : COVER LETTER pg 2
II :TABLE OF CONTENT pg 3
III : IDENTIFYING INFORMATION pg 4
IV : INVESTIGATION AND TECHNICAL PLANS pg 6
IV.1. Summary pg 6
IV.2. Experimental Objectives pg 6
IV.2.-A Introduction pg 6
IV.2.-B Technical Aspects of the Project pg 6
IV.2-C Scientific Purposes pg 7
IV.2.-D Cultural Purposes pg 7
IV.3. Approach, Work Plan and Significance of the Investigation pg 7
IV.3.-A Scientific Basis and Significance pg 7
1) First Part : ENSO related variability pg 7
2) Second Part : Non-ENSO related variability pg 8
IV.3.-B Approach and Work Plan. pg 10
V : MANAGEMENT AND COST PLAN pg 13
VI : REFERENCES QUOTED pg 15
VII : INFORMATIONS pg 18
VII.1. Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC). pg 18
VII.2. Programa de Investigacion en Oceanografia Fisica y Clima (PROFC). pg 18
VII.2.-A Background. pg 18
VII.2.-B Program Description. pg 19
VII.3. Last Publications related to the Propoal interest by the proposers. pg 20
III. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Title of the investigation.
Sea Level variability along the
Ecuador-Peru-Chile coasts, interaction with the equatorial Kelvin waves and the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
Principal Investigator (PI) :
Rodrigo Abarca del Rio,
LEGOS/UMR5566, 14 Av Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, FRANCE.
Tel.: (33)5.61.33.29.30 ; Fax: (33)5.61.25.32.05 ;
e-mail: Rodrigo.Abarca-del-Rio@cnes.fr
Co-Investigators : Collaborators of the proposal.
Eduardo Diaz, Yvan Barria Perez
CEE, Universidad de Chile,
A. Pratt 1171, Casilla 411-3
Santiago, Chile.
Tel.: (56)2.5568382 ; Fax.: (56)2.8441003
Gary Shaffer, Osvaldo Ulloa, Samuel Hormazabal
PROFC, Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla 119-C
Concepcion 3, Chile
Tel.: (56)41.20.35.85 ; Fax.: (56)41.23.99.00
Dante Figueroa
DEFAO, Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla 2407
Concepcion, Chile
Tel.: (56).41.20.41.36 ; Fax.: (56)41.22.01.04
Rolando Hernandez
PRMP, Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla 4009
Concepcion, Chile
Tel.: (56).41.20.37.75 ; Fax.: (56)41.22.11.07
Eddy Rojas Gonzales
Universidad Nacional Agraria - La Molina
Lima, Peru
Tel.: (51)1.450.55.01 ; e-mail.: eddy@lamolina.edu.pe
Maria del Pilar Cornejo-Rodriguez.
Facultad de Ingenieria Maritima y Ciencias del Mar
PO BOX 09-01-4382
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Fax.: (59)3.428.50.94
Boris Dewitte, Yves du Penhoat
LEGOS/UMR5566, 14 Av Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, FRANCE.
Tel.: (33)5.61.33.29.19 ; (33)5.61.33.29.26 ; Fax: (33)5.61.25.32.05
Diana Ruiz Pino
Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Marines (LPCM)
4 Place Jussieu, Boite 134
75000 Paris, FRANCE
Tel:. (33)1.44.27.48.60 ; Fax.: (33)1.44.27.49.93 ; e-mail.: ruiz@ccr.jussieu.fr
Yves Dandonneau
ORSTOM/LODYC
4 Place Jussieu
75252 Paris CEDEX 05, FRANCE
Fax.: (33)1.44.27.38.05 ; e-mail.: yd@lodyc.jussieu.fr
IV. INVESTIGATION AND TECHNICAL PLANS
IV.1. Summary
The main objective of this proposal is to provide the basis for a better knowledge of the weather and oceanic primary production patterns connections over the eastern Pacific and Southern America : the Equator-Peru-Chile-Antarctic region. The main anomaly of the variability of the weather patterns over the Peru-Chile coast regions are strongly dependent on the occurrences of the El Niño phenomena. It has a crucial importance for the economy of the region since it plays a great role on Agriculture and Fisheries.
Research by Southern Hemisphere laboratories on physical oceanography or just the influence of the El Nino phenomena over the oceanic productivity or variability of the local atmosphere is practically inexistant mainly because of lack of interest from the governments of South America in making a constructive scientific politics on the subject of physical oceanography or meteorology. The main cause, rather than the relative economical poverty of the three countries, is due to the lack of scientific culture on the population of the southern eastern pacific region (Ecuador, Peru, Chile) and misunderstanding of the importance of the relation between the dynamics of the oceans, the atmosphere and the economy.
IV.2 Experimental Objectives
IV.2-A Introduction.
We intend with this proposal to unify the oceanographic and atmospheric Latin American community around some subjects that may be developed by Latin American research laboratories in collaborations with European and North American fellows.
This proposal intend for the first time to propose a conjoint and mutual scientific objective in order to promote the teaching of physical atmospheric and oceanography over Latin America. Once this main scientific objective in course, the second objective will be to give main publicity to the collaboration and results and make the population aware of the importance of this issue through the media.
If our scientific (atmospheric and oceanic) culture becomes part of the culture of the Latin American countries included in the project, therein enhancing the population interest in the subjects, our main objective will be achieved since it will assure us about the perennially of the project.
IV.2.-B Technical Aspects of the Project.
The technical aspects of the project will be :
(1) Establish a data bank of altimetric sea level variability : both large and local sea level variations along the coast of the eastern south Pacific over South America (Ecuador to Antarctica) using Topex/Poseidon, ERS1-2 and Jason-1 altimeter series.
(2) Establish tide gauges over at least every 5° (five degrees) over the coasts of Chile, in order to complete the already in use tide gauges and in order to estimate the accuracy of the altimeter-derived sea level.
(3) Establish moored platforms over particular sites off the coast.
(4) Establish a bank of remotely-sensed data on sea surface temperature, winds and pigments.
(5) Establish inland simple and cheap meteorological stations with the same coverage as the tide gauges.
(6) Perform numerical model simulations (with the use of the MOM oceanic model coupled with the NCAR atmospheric model) and with the FRAM model of the ACC.
IV.2.C Scientific Purposes.
The Scientific purposes are :
(1) Study the seasonal, intra-seasonal, inter-seasonal (interannual and decadal) variability of the sea level over the latitudes of Latin America (Ecuador-Peru-Chile-Antarctica) using Topex/Poseidon, ERS1-2, and Jason-1 altimeter and tide gauges sea level series, and provide the international community with an estimate of the sea level variations over the latitudes on the Southern Hemisphere, based on both altimeter and tide gauges analyses.
(2) Study the seasonal, intra-seasonal, interseasonal (interannual and decadal) variability of sea surface temperature, winds and pigments over the coast and off.
(3) Study the seasonal, intra-seasonal, interseasonal (interannual and decadal) variability of the atmospheric variability (surface temperature, temperature at various heights, pressure) over the latitudes of Latin America with both historic data, reanalysis of NCEP and our atmospheric-oceanic coupled model runs.
(4) Study the linear and non-linear relation between the ENSO phenomena and the variability of both parameters (Atmospheric and Oceanographic) at all the frequencies (Intra-seasonal to inter-seasonal).
(5) Study the variability of the Atlantic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and the related variability over the coast of Chile, Peru and Ecuador. Study the relation between the ACC and the ENSO related variability (amplitude and phase) over the coast of Chile. Study the main relation between the ACC and the Southern America weather patterns.
(6) Assimilate in oceanic models both remote sensed and local data in order to try to understand the relation between the local oceanic variability and the local atmospheric variability. Compute different runs, taking into account the variability of the Equatorial and Antarctic currents in order to understand their influence and teleconnections.
IV.2.-D Cultural Purposes
The cultural scientific objectives are :
(1) To form an intergovernmental panel of South American investigators and laboratories united in a sole and unique objective. Create an efficient group of South American scientists able to explain and popularize the acquired knowledge.
(2) Persuade governments and private Universities of South American countries on the particular importance of funding research in physical oceanography. Found a South American Institute of Oceanography and Climate (ISAOC) in order to institutionalize and facilitate future collaboration within the region and with European and North American institutions.
IV.3. APPROACH, WORK PLAN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INVESTIGATION.
IV.3.-A Scientific Basis and Significance of the Proposal.
1) First Part : ENSO related variability.
Kelvin waves are one of the most prominent observed signatures in the equatoriall Pacific ocean. When an equatorial Kelvin wave strikes a north-south boundary, as it is the case for the eastern Pacific boundary, part of the incoming energy is reflected as Rossby waves, and the remainder is divided (by symmetry) between northward- and southward-propagating coastal Kelvin waves. These are called coastal trapped waves : Theoretical studies (Moore, 1968; McCreary, 1976; Clarke, 1983 and 1992) have shown that the eastern boundary is an extension of the equatorial waveguide. Observations and modeling (Enfield and Allen, 1980; Spillane et al., 1987; Pares-Sierra and O'Brien, 1989; Johnson and O'Brien, 1990) of the upper ocean suggest that the equatorial anomalies in sea level and surface temperature can propagate to middle latitudes along ocean eastern boundaries, on intra and inter-annual time scales.
Sea-level measurements along the western coast of Americas have shown that there is a strong signal at ENSO frequencies (2 to 6 yrs) that propagates poleward at about 40 (Chelton and Davis, 1982) to 90 cm/s (Enfield and Allen, 1980). This ENSO sea level signal must be associated with ENSO coastal currents, but because interannual current time series are unavailable, the structure and strength of these currents are not known. Recently (Clarke and Gorder, 1994) showed that coastal ENSO currents are fundamentally affected by bottom topography: They showed that with realistic bottom topography and friction coastal sea level propagates poleward at speed similar to that observed. It is also the case for the sea temperature, Kessler (1990) showed that the coastal 15° and 20° isotherms also propagates poleward at a similar speed (32 cm/s).
The structure and magnitude of these ENSO events are important biologically; Chelton et al. (1982) showed that these flows are the primary cause of the interannual variability of the zooplankton biomass of California. On the Southern Hemisphere, the Peru-Chile current, the eastern boundary current in the South Pacific Ocean, is the site of strong coastal upwelling and exceptionally high biological productivity (Ryther, 1969) but also a site of extreme interannual variability of these phenomena due to El Niño events (Wyrtki, 1975). Within the last two decades or so, several intensive studies of the Peru-Chile current, and of the coastal upwelling system associated with it, have been carried out off Peru during "normal" and El Niño conditions. Results from these studies have confirmed the existence of a persistent, poleward undercurrent- the Peru-Chile undercurrent (Wooster and Gilmartin, 1961; Brookmann et al. 1980) and have revealed poleward propagating, low frequency fluctuations of current and sea level (Smith, 1978; Romea and Smith, 1983; Brink et al. 1983). Furthermore, these results show significant changes in hydrography and currents and in the strength and nature of these fluctuations during El Niño events (Huyer et al. 1987; Huyer et al. 1991). Low frequency fluctuations off Peru appear to be mainly manifestations of free coastal-trapped waves (Brink et al. 1978; Brink 1982) propagating to the south, and possibly as well forced by equatorial waves impinging on the west coast of South America (Clarke 1983; Enfield et al. 1987).
Low frequency fluctuations along the western coast of South America are dominated by eastern current variability up to the latitude of Valparaiso. On their travel towards the poles these waves dissipate their energy but it is not quite well known how. And although there are studies using tide gauge data and XBT measurements which show that these waves continue further to the south (Pizarro, 1990), studies around the site of the port of Concepcion let us think that a great part of the energy associated to these waves may dissipate over this zone.
The high biologic productivity of the eastern side of the Pacific is generally seen as due to the very fertile water produced by cold upwellings forced by local winds. And since local winds have very different characteristics depending on the latitude, upwellings has very distinct characteristics over the coast of South America. However recent studies (Thomas et al., 1994) showed that the seasonal cycle of phitoplankton is not necessarily coupled to the coastal winds as shown on the North West Pacific coasts. The coastal trapped waves, on their travel to the poles lose part of their energy and may modify the position of the upwelling system, and consequently the productivity of the regions. It is therefore possible that the coastal trapped may have as well a considerable influence over the pelagic ecosystem.
On the other hand studies also point out that the reflection of low frequency waves, incident on the boundary at the equator, should be visible (although very thin) at higher latitudes along the coast and this may play an additional role as well over the pelagic system.
2) Second Part : Non ENSO related variability.
The second part of the scientific background deals with the relation between the Antarctic climate, South-Eastern Pacific currents, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the local weather, the variability and dynamics of the sea level variability, sea surface temperature and pigments.
The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is known to have large impacts on various atmospheric parameters over much of the earth surface, particularly in the Tropics and Subtropics (e.g. Ropelewski and Halpern 1987). But a picture is gradually being assembled that suggest that the effects of ENSO is not substantial in middle and high southern latitudes : Van Loon and Shea (1987) have shown that large-scale circulation anomalies occur over the Southern Hemisphere both before and after "warm events". Walsh and Cerveny (1990) found that annual mean temperature anomalies at stations on the west coast of South America have an inverse relationship with the sign of the SOI north of 35°S and no significant relationships south of this latitude down to 52°S. Rosenblüth et al. (1997) analyzed surface temperature variation for 1933-1992 along the coast of Chile. They found that the correlation with the Southern Oscillation Index decreases from north to south, becoming non significant between 33°S and 53°S. In the Northern sector the correlation is larger in winter whereas in the southern sector they are larger in summer, although with no statistical significance. The analysis of Pan and Oort (1983) shows that the zonally averaged atmospheric temperature difference between "warm" and "cool" events is significantly negative in the lower atmosphere south of 60°S and through most of the troposphere poleward of 70°S. Consistent with this, Savage et al. (1988) have found a significant correlation between the annual time series of the SOI, and the South Pole temperatures lagged by one year. Smith and Stearns (1993) have detected a clear signal in the temperature and pressure over the Antarctic continent over the 12 months before and 12 months after six SOI minima (ENSO events). Simmonds and Jacka (1995) using sea ice extent over 20 years (1973-1992), showed that in the South-Eastern Pacific, sea ice conditions precedes SOI values. Although this connection is seasonally dependent, this may have been expected by the authors as it is known that atmospheric processes such as teleconections and air sea interactions depend greatly on the (seasonally varying) background climatology. [Symptomatic of this is the fact that most of ENSO forecast models show a level of skill that is seasonally variable (see e.g. review of Barnett et al. 1993).]. As well, although the correlation is not significant at the 90% level any physical mechanism linking these two parameters would be anticipated to involve considerable inertia (e.g. changes to ocean circulation, modification to the westerlies) that will be manifest as relationships at various leads and lags. Precisely Peng and Wang (1989) have suggested an influence of Antarctic Sea Ice on the northwest Pacific substropical high and proposed a model, involving the movement of ocean currents in the South Pacific Region, to explain this. James (1988) has shown that the topography of Antarctica is responsible for forcing hemispheric planetary waves. Anomalous surface conditions (e.g. those associated with the interannual variability of sea ice) might be expected to influence such large-scale features. Modeling studies (e.g. Simmonds and Dix 1986; Mitchell and Hills 1986) suggest that anomalous Antarctic sea ice conditions are capable of inducing changes in the distribution of tropical surface pressure. Evidence is mounting that "cold outbreaks" from the Antarctic can affect weather systems in midlatitudes (e.g. Mo et al. 1987; Orlanski et al. 1991), and the severity of this outbreaks might be expected to be related to Antarctic Sea Ice conditions, and therefore to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current variability. Simmonds and Wu (1993) have suggested that Antarctic sea ice conditions are capable of modifying the westerlies, which in turn affect cyclonic behavior and subsequently impact on sea ice. We mention finally in this connection that Meehl (1991) has suggested that the Southern Hemisphere "semiannual oscillation" may play a role on the evolution of extremes of the Southern Oscillation. The semiannual oscillation is understood to be associated with the differing nature of the annual cycles of temperature near 50°S and 65°S (Van Loon 1967); the latter would be expected to be influenced by sea ice conditions in a given year.
IV.3.-B Approach and Work Plan.
We wish to understand the local (winds, sea surface temperature) and remote (normal (non ENSO times) equatorial, ENSO time and Antarctic climate and ACC variability) influence on the principal dynamics characteristics along the coasts of South America. We are as well motivated by understanding the variability of the local and remote weather over the continent and its influence over the pelagic system : Our goal is to understand the variability of the phytoplankton and its relation with upwellings on seasonal, intra- and inter-seasonal time scales. Our aim is to explore possible connections between Antarctic weather, the Antarctic Circumpolar variability and the local weather along Chile. Then we wish to participate on the research on the understanding of the influence of remote and local oceanic variability on normal and non-normal times on the weather patterns of the western side of Southern South America.
We detail in the following the main issues of interest.
1) Recent analysis of Chile-JGOFS observations of currents over the continental slope at 30S off Chile during 1991-1992 (an El Nino year) together with other observations off Peru and from the equatorial Pacific Ocean revealed large current fluctuations of 50 day period propagating poleward over the shelf and slope off Peru and Chile (Shaffer et al., 1997). Such low frequency variability may significantly influence local climate and marine resources. It was shown that these fluctuations are remotely forced by winds in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean and, thus, may be predictable with up two months anticipation.
Several wind/recording current meter moorings with satellite altimetry will be deployed over the slope along the west coast of South America including one off Concepcion. Data from these moorings as well as sea level data from along the coast will be assimilated into ocean models of free and forced trapped waves. As precise in "principal objectives" we will also deploy tide gauges all along the coast of Chile, in order to estimate and validate the accuracy of the satellite altimetry over the southern hemisphere.
2) Real flow over the slope and shelf along the west coast of South America is more complex than can be captured in simple coastal trapped waves models. More realistic simulations of such flow in a specific sector along the coast require numerical models based on the primitive equations. To provide realistic boundary conditions for the OGCM in particular at the Northern boundary, we first need to document the relationship between the central equatorial variability and the generation of coastal trapped waves. Previous studies by Clarke (1992, 1994) provide a solid background for this issue. We plan to further investigate the relationship between equatorial Kelvin waves and coastal trapped waves with the numericall model of the Tropical Pacific developped by Mr. Dewitte. Boris Dewitte has worked on data and model simulations analysis of the low frequency variability of the Tropical Pacific (Perigaud and Dewitte, 1996; Dewitte and Perigaud, 1996; Dewitte et al., 1997). He has developped an intermediate coupled model of the tropical Pacific (Dewitte, 1998) which can be used for ENSO prediction (Dewitte and Gushchina, 1998). Dr Dupenhoat of LEGOS will also join the team. His solid knowledge of the equatorial variability and ENSO prediction will be of great help during the different stages of this work.
3) During May-June 1995 a number of Chilean marine Scientist participate in the water column component of a major oceanographic expedition to the ESP aboard the German vessel "SONNE". Shaffer and Ulloa were in charge of this component designed to study circulation, carbon cycling and decadal-scale variability in the Peru-Chile current off Chile. "SONNE" data together with data from recent World Ocean Circulation Experiment cruises in the ESP region will be analyzed in the context of inverse models to deduce the large scale circulation in the region. In the future, coarse-resolution, Ocean General Circulation Models will also be run at PROFC to address the large scale circulation of the region and more large-scale field studies will be carried out. An expensive parallel computer (relative to a third-world country) has been recently been purchased by University of Concepcion for PROFC in order to attain that objective. In order to complete the staff devoted to that study DEFAO and PROFC opened two tenure positions over the international community, starting in march 1998, for a numerical 3D ocean modeler and a specialist of coastal dynamics.
Dr. Gary Ray Shaffer, Scientific Coordinator of the PROFC project, is a physical-chemistry oceanographer whose main interests are: Ocean circulation and mixing; Eastern boundary currents; the ocean/atmosphere carbon cycle; the climate system; ocean nutrient and oxygen cycling. He is a research leader for more than 10 years, responsible for and participating to various cruises in the Atlantic and pacific Ocean; member of international Steering Commitee for the joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) and member of the JGOFS modelling commitee (both 1989-1992). He will be the scientific coordinator of the physical part of this program (points 1, 2 and 3) in collaboration with Maria del Pilar Cornejo-Rodriguez of Ecuador who's a physical oceanographer with extensive experience in the eastern boundary currents physics.
4) Seasonal cycles of remotely-sensed phytoplankton pigments appear tightly coupled to the coastal winds in the Eastern North Pacific (ENP) but not in the ESP (Thomas et al., 1994). Also negative anomalies of pigment concentration observed during the 1982-1983 El Nino in the ENP system are only observed more than 100 km offshore off Peru. An observational study is clearly needed to gain further insight into possible mechanisms responsible for the space-time variability of the coastal upwelling and of the phytoplankton pigment concentration along the west coast of South America. Such a study will involve the use of remotely-sensed data on sea surface temperature, winds and pigments for the region, and of moored platforms consisting of a buoy with meteorological and optical sensors and an automatic yo-yo profiler, the latter recently developed at the University of Copenhagen. The CEE (Centro de Estudios Espaciales) of Santiago (Chile) will provide the project with the data and will devote a research engineer specialist on satellite altimetry to the proposal interest in collaboration with personal working at PMPR under the direction of Dr. Hernandez, head of that department. The moored platforms has already been bought by PROFC and will be deployed in some sites off Concepcion.
Dr. Ulloa, head of PROFC, is a biological/optical oceanographer with a strong background in physical oceanography and the ocean carbon cycle. His main areas of research: marine primary production, marine optics, remote sensing of ocean color and ocean biogeochemical cycling. He will be the scientific coordinator of the biological part of the program. He will be responsible of Mr. Hormazabal (MSc. Research assistant), who is an oceanographer. He will also collaborate with Dr. Eddy Rojas of Peru, who is a oceanographer and who will move to a position of research assistant in PROFC. Also in collaboration are Dr Ruiz Pino and Dr Dandonneau from LPCM and LODYC laboratories (Paris/France), both biological oceanographers who will help the team with their experience.
5) The influence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) on the variability of the Humbold current has not for instance been adressed. It is as well the case for the influence of the Antarctic weather and ACC on the variability over the weather patterns over Southern America. We intend to install moored platforms, tide gauges and meteorological station over some points along Southern Chile, in order to investigate the teleconnections between local sea level (tide gauges, altimetry (Topex/Poseidon, Jason 1, ERS1-2), sea surface temperature, local winds and the variability of the ACC. The information concerning the Antarctic climate will be given by the few Chilean and foreign meteorological stations on the Antarctic continent participating to the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) activities and by NCEP analyses and reanalyses. Information concerning local sea surface temperature and winds along Chile will be obtained from CEE (Centro de Estudios Espaciales, Santiago).
Dr. Figueroa, head of DEFAO, whose main research interests are large-scale variability of the South Pacific Ocean, and global change impacts on ocean dynamics will be responsible in collaboration with Dr. Rodrigo Abarca del Rio (main interest : ocean atmosphere low frequency teleconnections) on this part of the proposal. Dr. Yvan Barria-Perez of CEE will join the team for the analysis of high resolution remote sensing data off Chile. The group will benefit from a tenure position recently opened at DEFAO, relative to a physical meteorologist, and which is actually been filled.
V- MANAGEMENT AND COST PLAN.
The Topex/Poseidon data are already present and currently analyzed by the proposers team. As mentioned above this proposal intend to officialise to the worldwide scientific community a program already running at Concepcion with the collaboration of a Swedish program (SIRES see information on part VII). This proposal is fully (until know) funded by the Universidad de Concepcion and SIRES (see part VII). This proposal does not intend to be funded by CNES but rather to serve as a platform for the program PROFC and Latin American scientific community in order to be able to establish cooperation with teams in France, Europe and North America. We hope with this proposal to be able to use the Jason-1 data, and to be considered as partners on the research on physical oceanography and global climate and be able to participate in the future in Jason-1 SWT workshops.
The proposers team is organized as follows :
Principal Investigator (Initiator and Coordinator of the Proposal):
Rodrigo Abarca del Rio (Ph.D.)
Geodesy, Remote sensing data analysis, ocean/atmosphere teleconections.
Participants.
At Centro de Estudios Espaciales (CEE), Santiago, Chile
Eduardo Diaz, Head of CEE
Yvan Barria Perez. (Ph.D.)
Remote Sensing data analysis, Physical Geography. (CEE)
At Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC), Concepcion, Chile
Osvaldo Ulloa, (Ph.D.) Head of PROFC
Biological Oceanography.
Gary Shaffer, (Ph.D.), Scientific Advisor of PROFC.
Physical Oceanography
Samuel Hormazabal, Research Assistant (MSc) at PROFC
Physical Oceanography
Dante Figueroa, (Ph.D.), Head of DEFAO
Physical Oceanography
Rolando Hernandez, (Ph.D.), Head of PMPR
Remote Sensing data analysis
Associate to the present proposal:
Eddy Rojas, (Ph.D.)
Physical Oceanography.
Maria del Pilar Cornejo-Rodriguez. (Ph.D.)
Physical Oceanography.
Boris Dewitte, (E.Ph.D.)
Physical Oceanography.
Yves du Penhoat (Ph.D.)
Physical Oceanography;
Diana Ruiz Pino (Ph.D.)
Biological Oceanography
Yves Dandonneau (Ph.D.)
Biological Oceanography
Recapitulative:
Eduardo Diaz, CEE, Santiago, CHILE.
Yvan Barria Perez, CEE, Santiago, CHILE.
Gary Shaffer, PROFC, Concepcion, CHILE .
Osvaldo Ulloa, PROFC, Concepcion, CHILE.
Samuel Hormazabal, PROFC, Concepcion, CHILE.
Dante Figueroa, DEFAO, Concepcion, CHILE.
Rolando Hernandez, PMPR, Concepcion, CHILE.
Eddy Rojas, UNALM, Lima, PERU.
Maria del Pilar Cornejo-Rodriguez, FIMCM, Guayaquil, ECUADOR.
Boris Dewitte, LEGOS, Toulouse, FRANCE.
Yves du Penhoat, ORSTOM-LEGOS, Toulouse, FRANCE
Diana Ruiz Pino, LPCM, Paris, FRANCE
Yves Dandonneau, ORSTOM/LODYC, Paris, FRANCE
VI - REFERENCES QUOTED
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°Brink, K. H., 1982: A comparison of long coastal trapped wave theory with observations off Peru., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 12, 897-913.
°Brink, K. H., J. S. Allen, and R. L. Smith, 1978: A study of low frequency fluctuations near the Peru coast., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 8, 1025-1041.
°Brink, K. H., D. Halpern, A. Huyer, and R. L. Smith, 1983: The physical environment of the Peruvian upwelling system., Progress in Oceanography, 12, 285-305.
°Brockmann, C., E. Fahrbach, A. Huyer, and R. L. Smith, 1980: The poleward undercurrent along the Peru coast: 5 to 15°S., Deep. Sea. Res., 27, 847-856.
°Chelton, D. B., P. A. Bernal, and J. A. McGowan, 1982: Large-scale interannual physical and biological interactions in the California current., J. Mar. Res., 40, 1095-1125.
°Chelton, D. B., and R. B. Davis, 1982: Monthly mean sea-level variability along the west coast of North America., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 12, 757-784.
°Clarke, A. J., 1983: The reflection of equatorial waves from oceanic boundaries., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 13, 1193-1207.
°Clarke, A. J., 1992: Low-frequency reflection from a nonmeridional eastern ocean boundary and the use of coastal sea level to monitor eastern Pacific equatorial Kelvin waves., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 22, 163-183.
°Clarke, A. J., and S. Van Gorder, 1986: A method for estimating wind-driven frictional, time dependent stratified shelf and slope water flow., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 16, 1013-1028.
°Clarke, A. J., and S. Van Gorder, 1994: On ENSO coastal currents and Sea levels., J. Phys. Oceanogr., 24, 661-680.
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VII - INFORMATIONS .
VII.1 Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC).
Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC) has been involved in marine research education for the last 40 years. These activities are carried out within the department of Oceanography, the Europe-Latin America (EULA) center for environmental sciences, the department of physics of the atmosphere and the ocean (DEFAO), and also within several multidisciplinary programs.
On this proposal three departments of the university are involved:
DEFAO : DEpartamento de Fisica de la Atmosfera y los Oceanos.
head : Dr Figueroa
PMPR: PrograMa de Percepcion Remota
head : Dr Hernandez
PROFC: PRograma de Investigacion en Oceanografia Fisica y Clima.
head : Dr Ulloa
VII.2 Programa de Investigation en Oceanografia Fisica y Clima.
PROFC
SPECIAL PROGRAM
PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
IN THE EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN
Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa, Program Coordinator
Dr. Gary Shaffer, Scientific Advisor
VII.2.-A Background.
During late 1995, the Department of Research Cooperation of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SAREC) and Professor Gary Shaffer (University of Copenhagen (UCop), Denmark) initiated discussions on establishing a program for basic research in regional problems of physical oceanography and climate in the Eastern South Pacific (ESP) Ocean. SAREC had identified the successful physical oceanography component of the bi-lateral, SAREC - Chile research program "Marine Natural Resources - SAREC contribution to the international JGOFS Eastern Boundary Current study off Chile" (1991) as the basis for a future regional research initiative.
During Spring and Summer of 1996, Shaffer and his colleague Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa investigated possible sites/counterparts in Chile for the proposed new program. It was decided to develop the program in cooperation with Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC), a dynamic, high quality institution with a long tradition in marine science an great interest in a new initiative. In september 1996, a proposal was submitted to SAREC from UdeC (signed by at the time Rector (Augusto Parra Munoz), Shaffer and Ulloa) for the establishment of the program for regional studies in physical oceanography and climate in the Eastern South Pacific Ocean (PROFC) at UdeC from beginning of 1997. This three-year proposal was recently approved in fully by SAREC. In April 1997, the program was established as a autonomous Special Program under the Direction of the Center of Research of the Universidad de Concepcion (UdeC).
VII.2.-B Program Description.
The program is dedicated mainly to oceanographic data analysis and modeling on problems of physical oceanography and climate in the ESP region. In particular, the Program addresses circulation, mixing and biogeo-chemical cycling in the Peru-Chile current and the effects of these processes on climate. Prime research questions are how fluctuations associated with El Nino events make their way southward along the coast of South America and what are physical, chemical, biological and climatological effects of such remotely-forced fluctuations. Another question concerns the structure and biogeochemical cycling in the Peru-Chile current and the interaction of these properties with ongoing climate change.
The program helps to organize, coordinate and secure funding for observational studies in the ESP region among partners in Chile, in the region and in Europe, North America and elsewhere. The program is devoted to scientific excellence and presents a platform in the South where ocean scientist and graduate students from Chile and the rest of the ESP region can interact with visiting ocean scientist from the "North" and other parts of the "South". Studies carried out at the program will presumably contribute significantly to global change research in South America and significantly increase the scientific marine resources and activities in Chile and the rest of the ESP region. The initial Program Scientific Advisor is Gary Shaffer and the initial Program Director is Osvaldo Ulloa.
SAREC provides core support (money) for research and exchange activities. This include several scientific positions, basic operational costs, travel costs and support for visiting scientists and students. UdeC provides the program with a renovated and furnished building, office equipment, computer network installation, heating and electricity and several administrative positions. A high end, parallel computer has being purchased with a Fundacion Andes grant on mid 1997. Since early the initial program staff has taken place : it is composed of four scientists in-residence, one system manager, one secretary/administrator, one technical assistant and two research assistants. Program scientists will be appointed visiting professors at UdeC, whereby they can serve as thesis masters for Ph.D. students there, thereby strengthening graduate programs in oceanography and climate at UdeC. In addition, the faculty of Physics and mathematics and the Faculty of Natural Resources and Oceanography are committing themselves to develop/strengthen teaching and research in physical oceanography at UdeC.
After the initial three year period, two additional three year periods with SAREC support for the program are expected (subject to positive, mid-term scientific evaluation). The first of these additional periods would maintain the initial funding level. This support would tail off during the final three year period and compensated by increasing permanent support for the Program by UdeC. During this latter period, the Program would presumably gain the status of a permanent Center at UdeC while retaining its regional network profile and its presumably high level of research funding.
VII.3. Last Publication related to the Proposal interest by proposers.
Shaffer, G. (1982). On the upwelling circulation over the wide shelf off Peru: 1. Circulation. J. Mar. Res., 40, 2, 293-314
Shaffer, G. (1986). On the upwelling circulation over the wide shelf of Peru: 2. Vertical velocities, J. Mar. Res., 44, 2, 226-265
Cornejo-Rodriguez, M. and D.B. Enfield. 1987, Propagation and forcing of high-frequency sea level variability along the coast of South America., J. Geophys. Res., 92: 14323-14334
Enfield, D., M. Cornejo-Rodriguez, R. Smith and P. Newberger., 1987, The equatorial source of propagating variability along the Peru coast during the 1982-1983 El Nino. J. Geophys. Res., 92: 14441-14461
Platt, T., S. Sathyendranath, O. Ulloa, W.G. Harrison, N. Hoepffner and J. Goes, 1991, Nutrient control of phytoplankton photosynthesis in the western North Atlantic, Nature, 356, 229-231
Ulloa, O., S. Sathyendranath, T. Platt and R. Quijones, 1992, Light scattering by marine heterotrophic bacteria, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 9619-9629
Ulloa, O., S. Sathyendranath, T. Platt, 1994, Effect of the particle size distribution on the backscattering ration in sea water, Applied Optics, 30, 7070-7077
Shaffer, G., S. Salinas, O. Pizarro, A. Vega, S. Hormazabal (1995)., Currents in the deep ocean off Chile (30°S)., Deep Sea Res, 42, 425-436
Shaffer, G. and Sarmiento, J.L., (1995), Biogeochemichal cycling in the global ocean : 1. A new analytical model with continous vertical resolution and high latitude dynamics., J. Geophys. Res., 100, C2, 2659-2672
Figueroa, D. and Yuras, G. (1996). Physical Oceanography of the strait of Magellian in spring. Reports of Polar Research (AWI- Germany), 190: 20-22
Sobarzo, M., D. Figueroa and D. Arcos (1996). Water Exchange between a bay and the coastal waters, a case study: Concepcion bay, Chile. Submitted to Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.
Shaffer, G. (1996). Biogeochemichal cycling in the global ocean: 2. New production, Redfield ratios and remineralization scales in the organic pump., J. Geophys. Res., 101, C2, 3723-3745.
Perigaud, C., and B. Dewitte, (1996): El Nino-La Nina events simulated with the Cane and Zebiak's model and observed with satellite or in situ data. Part I: model data comparison. J. Climate, 9, 66-84.
Dewitte, B. and C. Perigaud, (1996): El Nino-La Nina events simulated with the Cane and Zebiak's model and observed with satellite or in situ data. Part II: model forced with observations. J. Climate, 9, 1188-1207.
Shaffer, G. O. Pizarro, L. Djurfeld, S. Salinas and J. Rutlland, (1997), Circulation an low frequency variability near the Chilean coast: remotely forced fluctuations during the 1991-1992 El Nino, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 27 (2): 217-235
Dewitte, B., G. Reverdin and C. Maes, (1997): Vertical structure of an OGCM simulation of the equatorial Pacific ocean in 1985-1994. Submitted to J. Phys. Oceanogr.
Dewitte, B., (1998): Sensitivity of an intermediate coupled model of the Tropical Pacific ocean to its vertical structure. In preparation.
Dewitte, B. and D. Gushchina (1998): ENSO simulation and prediction with an intermediate coupled model. In preparation. To be presented at Lisboa98.
Abarca del Rio, R. Dewitte, B. and Guschinna, D. (1998): ENSO analysis and prediction using wavelet analysis. In preparation.