Mapping of currents off the northwestern Iberian coast with the Regional Ocean Modelling System

ABSTRACT The structure and the temporal variability of modelled velocity fields at different depths are studied for the years 2002–2004 in the Northwestern Iberian Margin. The currents are simulated with the Regional Ocean Modeling System in a high resolution that is compatible with the input data from the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model reanalysis and the atmospheric forcing from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis, as well as with the tidal forcing from the TPXO Global Tide Solution. After an initial validation of the numerical model results, the velocity field is mapped to identify the region's main flow characteristics and its seasonal and interannual variability, in order to find areas that have strong currents, which could be of interest for exploring tidal stream energy. There are three main regions within the numerical domain, at different levels, where velocity values reach higher values than their surroundings: (i) located at the surface flowing south around 9.5°W, related to the summer Upwelling Jet; (ii) located further offshore near the Galician Bank, flowing north at deeper water levels which is visible during most part of the year and; (iii) within Ría de Arousa, also visible all year round.