Analysis of hydrographic data collected by Southern Elephant Seals in the Argentine Continental Shelf

MELINA M. MARTINEZ; LAURA A. RUIZ ETCHEVERRY; BAPTISTE PICARD; MARTIN SARACENO; CHRISTOPHE GUINET

Simposio; Ocean From Space; 2022

NSA Group srl,

In situ data obtained from CTD (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) sensors attached on 6 elephantseals (Mirounga Leonina) that crossed the Argentine Continental Shelf between the 17th and 31st of October 2019 are analyzed. The sub-surface (15 m depth) in situ data collected correlates very well (r=0.9) with the satellite sea surface temperature (SST), suggesting that the in situ data are of high-quality. The high spatiotemporal resolution of the in situ dataset show regions with strong gradients along the sections: T and S gradients were-up to 0.06 deg C/km and 0.03 UPS/km respectively along the trajectories, in clear association with frontal regions. Water masses typical of the region were also identified. Finally, the steric effect was estimated from potential density changes calculated fromT and S vertical profiles and compared with the value estimated by a reanalysis model. The comparison between both data sets is quite good (correlation r=0.83).