Open ocean temperature and salinity trends in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem

Abstract

The Sea Surface Temperature in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) for the 32 years in the period 1982‐2013 shows a mean warming trend of 0.28°C decade‐1. However, this overall warming trend shows significant changes due to the influence of the different dynamical regimes that coexist in the CCLME. Near the coast, in the area under the influence of the upwelling, between Cape Blanc and Cape Beddouza, the warming trend is not statistically different from zero. Near the coast, but in the waters under the influence of downwelling, between Cape Verde and Cape Blanc, the warming trend is higher (>0.5°C decade‐1), and statistically significant. In the oceanic regions, there is a statistically significant trend of 0.25°C decade‐1, a trend that is also observed in waters shallower than the permanent thermocline (200‐ 600 dbar). This warming rate is density compensate, with an increase in salinity of 0.02 decade‐1. Neither the intermediate waters nor the upper deep waters show any statistically significant trend. The deep waters (2600‐3600 dbar) in the oceanic waters north of the Canary Islands, show a warming rate of ‐0.01°C decade‐1 and a freshening of ‐0.002 decade‐1.