🌊 Concepción Coastal Upwelling Analysis

Comprehensive evaluation of wind-driven upwelling circulation and temperature dynamics by Claudio Iturra

📍 Location
Concepción, Chile
36.8°S, 73.0°W

🌊 Depth Analysis
0 - 100 meters
Continental Shelf

🌀 Current System
Humboldt Current
Eastern Boundary

🌬️ Wind Pattern
Southerly Winds
Seasonal Variation

🌬️ Wind-Driven Upwelling Analysis

0.085

Wind Stress (N/m²)

1.2

Ekman Transport (m²/s)

2.5

Upwelling Velocity (m/day)

125

Upwelling Index (m³/s/100m)

🌊 MODERATE UPWELLING CONDITIONS

Key Upwelling Equations:

Wind Stress: τ = ρₐ × Cᴅ × |U₁₀|² = 0.085 N/m²
Ekman Transport: Mₑ = τ/(ρf) = 1.2 m²/s
Upwelling Velocity: w = ∇ × (τ/ρf) = 2.5 m/day
Coriolis Parameter: f = 2Ω sin(φ) = -8.76×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹

🌬️ Wind Conditions

Wind Speed (m/s): 8.0

Wind Direction (°): 180

Wind Pattern

🌊 Ocean Conditions

Sea Surface Temp (°C): 14.5

Stratification (N²×10⁴): 4.0

Season

Upwelling Analysis Results

Click "Calculate Upwelling Parameters" to see detailed analysis.

🌡️ Vertical Temperature Structure

Current Temperature Profile

Temperature Anomaly

Thermocline Depth (m)

8.5

Thermocline Strength (°C)

Mixed Layer Depth (m)

11.2

Bottom Temp (°C)

Temperature Structure Equations:

Heat Balance: ∂T/∂t + u·∇T = ∇·(K∇T) + Q/(ρCₚ)
Thermocline Depth: h = u*/(N·f) where N² = -(g/ρ₀)(∂ρ/∂z)
Upwelling Temperature: T_up = T_bottom + (T_surface - T_bottom)·e^(-z/H)
Mixed Layer: h_ml = 2.5·u*³/(B·N³) where B = buoyancy flux

🌡️ Temperature Parameters

Surface Temperature (°C): 16.0

Deep Water Temp (°C): 10.0

Upwelling Intensity: 0.5

🌊 Mixing Parameters

Wind Mixing (m²/s): 0.01

Solar Heating (W/m²): 200

Temperature Analysis

Temperature profile updated based on current parameters.

🌀 Coastal Circulation Patterns

0.35

Coastal Jet Velocity (m/s)

1.8

Cross-shore Transport (m²/s)

Rossby Radius (km)

0.22

Geostrophic Velocity (m/s)

Circulation Equations:

Coastal Jet: v = (τˢ/ρf)[1 - exp(-fh/Aᵥ)]
Geostrophic Balance: fv = -g(∂η/∂x)
Rossby Radius: R = NH/f = 28 km
Cross-shore Transport: Q = ∫₀ʰ u dz = 1.8 m²/s

🌊 Circulation Controls

Alongshore Wind (m/s): 7.0

Density Gradient (kg/m⁴): 0.002

Bottom Friction: 0.003

Circulation Analysis

Circulation patterns calculated based on current parameters.

📈 Time Series Analysis

2.1

Avg Upwelling (m/day)

5.8

Max Upwelling (m/day)

3.2

SST Variability (°C)

Upwelling Frequency (%)

🔬 Complete Oceanographic Parameter Analysis

Complete Parameter Set for Concepción Upwelling:

Wind & Forcing:
• Wind Stress: τ = ρₐCᴅU₁₀² = 0.085 N/m²
• Ekman Transport: Mₑ = τ/(ρf) = 1.2 m²/s
• Upwelling Index: UI = -τᵧ/(ρf) × 1000 = 125 m³/s/100m

Thermal Structure:
• Brunt-Väisälä: N² = -(g/ρ₀)(∂ρ/∂z) = 4.0×10⁻⁴ s⁻²
• Richardson Number: Ri = N²/(∂u/∂z)² = 1.8
• Thermocline Depth: h_th = 25 m

Circulation:
• Rossby Radius: R = NH/f = 28 km
• Coastal Jet: v_jet = 0.35 m/s
• Geostrophic Velocity: v_g = -(g/f)(∂η/∂x) = 0.22 m/s

📊 Parameter Display

Primary Parameter

Secondary Parameter

Parameter Analysis Report

Complete oceanographic parameter analysis for Concepción coastal upwelling system.