10 Upwelling
Description
The CCE is an upwelling dominated system, with the interaction between upwelling, stratification, and source water properties controlling much of coastal temperatures, nutrient input, and overall productivity.
The Coastal Upwelling Transport Index (CUTI, pronounced “cutie”) and the Biologically Effective Upwelling Transport Index (BEUTI; pronounced “beauty”) leverage state-of-the-art ocean models as well as satellite and in situ data to improve upon historically available upwelling indices for the U.S. west coast (Jacox et al. 2018). CUTI provides estimates of vertical transport near the coast (i.e., upwelling/downwelling). It was developed as a more accurate alternative to the previously available ‘Bakun Index’. BEUTI provides estimates of vertical nitrate flux near the coast (i.e., the amount of nitrate upwelled/downwelled), which may be more relevant than upwelling strength when considering some biological responses.
The historical Bakun (Bakun (1973); Bakun (1975)) upwelling indices provide long time series of upwelling, and are based on estimates of offshore Ekman transport driven by geostrophic wind stress. Geostrophic winds are derived from mean surface atmospheric pressure fields provided by the U.S. Navy Fleet Numerical Meteorological and Oceanographic Center (FNMOC), Monterey, CA.
Time series of the upwelling indices provide information on upwelling strength at sub-seasonal frequency and upwelling phenology, and allow interannual comparisons of seasonal upwelling timing and frequency. Additionally, the calculation of cumulative upwelling allows for a comparison of the total amount of upwelling a region receives during the entire course of the year. Cumulative upwelling is calculated as the daily summation of upwelling values (additive for positive upwelling, and subtractive for negative upwelling - aka downwelling) starting on Jan 1 and ending on Dec 31st.
Coastal Upwelling Transport Index (CUTI)
- Latitudes:
- 33 N
- 39 N
- 45 N
- Component Category: Climate and Ocean Drivers
- Time Range: 1988 - 2024
- CCIEA Data Contact: isaac.schroeder@noaa.gov
- Institution: NOAA/SWFSC/ERD
- Source Data: CUTI is a new upwelling index that leverages state-of-the-art ocean models as well as satellite and in situ data to improve upon historically available upwelling indices for the U.S. west coast. CUTI provides estimates of vertical transport near the coast (i.e., upwelling/downwelling). It was developed as a more accurate alternative to the previously available Bakun Index. See (Jacox et al. 2018) Jacox, M. G., C. A. Edwards, E. L. Hazen, and S. J. Bograd (2018) Coastal upwelling revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and improved upwelling indices for the U.S. west coast. Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1029/2018JC014187.
Biologically Effective Upwelling Transport Index (BEUTI)
- Latitudes:
- 33 N
- 39 N
- 45 N
- Component Category: Climate and Ocean Drivers
- Time Range: 1988 - 2024
- CCIEA Data Contact: isaac.schroeder@noaa.gov
- Institution: NOAA/SWFSC/ERD
- Source Data: BEUTI is a new upwelling index that leverages state-of-the-art ocean models as well as satellite and in situ data to improve upon historically available upwelling indices for the U.S. west coast. BEUTI provides estimates of vertical nitrate flux near the coast (i.e., the amount of nitrate upwelled/downwelled), which may be more relevant than upwelling strength when considering some biological responses. See (Jacox et al. 2018) Jacox, M. G., C. A. Edwards, E. L. Hazen, and S. J. Bograd (2018) Coastal upwelling revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and improved upwelling indices for the U.S. west coast. Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1029/2018JC014187.
Bakun Upwelling Index
- Latitudes:
- 33 N
- 39 N
- 45 N
- Component Category: Climate and Ocean Drivers
- Time Range: 1967 - 2025
- CCIEA Data Contact: isaac.schroeder@noaa.gov
- Institution: NOAA/SWFSC/ERD
- Source Data: Upwelling index computed from 1-degree 6-hourly FNMOC sea level pressure 33 degrees of latitude. The coastal Upwelling Index is an index of the strength of the wind forcing on the ocean which has been used in many studies of the effects of ocean variability on the reproductive and recruitment success of many fish and invertebrate species. NOAA/ERD
Indicator Downloads
ERDDAP™ links:
https://oceanview.pfeg.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/cciea_OC_CUTI.html
https://oceanview.pfeg.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/cciea_OC_BEUTI.html
https://oceanview.pfeg.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/cciea_OC_UI.html
References