🌊 Chilean Coastal Ocean Circulation

Interactive scheme showing circulation patterns and oceanographic parameters for central-south Chile (100m depth) by Claudio Iturra

Location: 35°S - 40°S | Humboldt Current System

20m 50m 100m 200m Southerly Winds Upwelling Humboldt Current Coastal Jet Ekman Transport Return Flow Thermal Front Internal Waves LAND Central-South Chile PACIFIC OCEAN 35°S 37°S 40°S

Legend

Wind Stress
Humboldt Current
Coastal Jet
Ekman Transport
Upwelling Zones
Return Flow
Thermal Fronts

🌍 Season

🌬️ Wind Parameters

🌊 Ocean Parameters

🌡️ Temperature

🌬️ Wind Stress Effects

Upwelling Intensity HIGH
Coastal Jet Strength HIGH
Ekman Transport HIGH
τ = ρₐ × Cᴅ × |U₁₀|² = 0.096 N/m²
Ekman Transport = τ/(ρf) = 1.2 m²/s

🌊 Stratification Impact

Vertical Mixing MEDIUM
Internal Wave Activity HIGH
Nutrient Transport MEDIUM
N² = -(g/ρ₀)(∂ρ/∂z) = 5.0×10⁻⁴ s⁻²
Ri = N²/(∂u/∂z)² = 2.5

🌀 Coriolis & Rotation

Geostrophic Balance HIGH
Rossby Radius MEDIUM
Inertial Oscillations LOW
f = 2Ω sin(φ) = -8.7×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹
Rᵢ = NH/f = 35 km

🌡️ Temperature Gradients

Thermal Wind MEDIUM
Density Fronts HIGH
Baroclinic Instability LOW
∂v/∂z = -(g/ρ₀f)(∂ρ/∂x) = 2.3×10⁻³ s⁻¹
ΔT = 6°C over 100m

🌊 Tidal Effects

Tidal Mixing LOW
Internal Tides MEDIUM
Residual Circulation LOW
U_tidal = 0.15 m/s
Excursion = U/ω = 1.2 km

🌊 Humboldt Current System

Alongshore Transport HIGH
Cross-shelf Exchange MEDIUM
Nutrient Supply HIGH
V_humboldt = 0.25 m/s northward
Transport = 25 Sv