Impacts of the closure of the Mozambique Channel on the southwest Indian Ocean circulation: A regional numerical simulation
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Paleobathymetric reconstructions suggest that 35 million years ago, local uplift of the Davie Ridge could have temporarily raised a continental land-bridge between Africa and Madagascar and dramatically affected their connectivity.Numerical simulations of a regional model of the southwest Indian Ocean at mesoscale resolution are performed to investigate the consequences of such a closure of the Mozambique Channel.Compared to a reference simulation of present day circulation, blocking the Mozambique Channel results in a redistribution of the transport around Madagascar dramatically strengthening the East Madagascar Current and eddy variability south of Madagascar, broadening the Agulhas Current, and modifying water mass properties and bottom circulation.
Source: Journal of Marine Systems
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ifremer, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Laboratory for Ocean Physics and Satellite Remote Sensing, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Geo-Ocean, Epigénétique et Destin Cellulaire, Université Paris Diderot
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
Funders: ISblue, Agence Nationale de la Recherche
OpenAlex ID: W4405310702