SUBSURFACE THERMAL INVERSION AND ITS RELATION WHIT COASTAL UPWELLING

Abstract

The origen and fluctuations of a Coastal thermal inversión is studied. A set oí datq from H years oí batithermograph observations, collected off Valparaíso (33”S), is used to calcúlate simple statisticsand a preliniinary heat balance within the inversión. The thermal inversión is produced by the sinking water on its way to the west. The sinking isdue lo the higher density of the upwelled water. A box model forthe heat balance showed some evidence that the air-sea heat flux may not be enough to warm up the upwelled water, a fact that supports the proposed relationship between the thermal inversión and Coastal upwelling.