River discharge impacts coastal southeastern tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature and circulation: a model-based analysis

Aroucha, Léo C.; Lübbecke, Joke F.; Brandt, Peter; Schwarzkopf, Franziska U.; Biastoch, Arne

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-661-2025

Articles | Volume 21, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-661-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-661-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 21, issue 2

Research article

|

18 Mar 2025

Research article |

| 18 Mar 2025

River discharge impacts coastal southeastern tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature and circulation: a model-based analysis

Léo C. Aroucha, Joke F. Lübbecke, Peter Brandt, Franziska U. Schwarzkopf, and Arne Biastoch

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-661-2025-supplement

Data sets

Supplementary Data to: River discharge impacts coastal Southeastern Tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature and circulation: a model-based analysis Léo C. Aroucha and Franziska U. Schwarzkopf https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/2b927bcd-afab-4bc6-ba97-634d09435daa

Physical oceanography from mooring KPO_1106 and KPO_1107 Gerd Krahmann https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.870917

Physical oceanography (ADCP) from mooring KPO_1107 Peter Brandt and Gerd Krahmann https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.909911

Physical oceanography (ADCP) from mooring KPO_1153 Marcus Dengler and Gerd Krahmann https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.909913

Physical oceanography from mooring KPO_1215 Rebecca Hummels et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.939249

Physical oceanography from mooring KPO_1235 Peter Brandt et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.962193

Model code and software

Supplementary Data to: River discharge impacts coastal Southeastern Tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature and circulation: a model-based analysis Léo C. Aroucha and Franziska U. Schwarzkopf https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12085/2b927bcd-afab-4bc6-ba97-634d09435daa

Short summary

The west African coastal region sustains highly productive fisheries and marine ecosystems influenced by sea surface temperature. We use oceanic models to show that the freshwater input from land to ocean strengthens a surface northward (southward) coastal current north (south) of the Congo River mouth, promoting a transfer of cooler (warmer) waters to north (south) of the Congo discharge location. We highlight the significant impact of river discharge on ocean temperatures and circulation.