TRANSVERSE FILAMENTS OF THE BENGUELA UPWELLING FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY

Abstract

The existence of a system of cold and warm transverse upwelling filaments was established on the basis of an analysis of daily infrared satellite images of the Benguela upwelling (15-32° S) recorded during two sea expeditions during January-February 1986 and April-June 1988 and its principal characteristics were determined. The geographic location of the filaments and their relationship to bottom topography is analyzed. A correlation is established between the spatial temporal variability of the system of cold filaments and the seasonal intensification of the upwelling.