Sánchez-Pérez, A., L., Tenorio-Fernández, E., Romero, J., Montes-Aréchiga & L., Sánchez-Velasco (2026). Detection and temporal variation of the thermal front system in the Midriff Archipelago Region of the Gulf of California. Continental Shelf Research. 296: 105581. DOI: 10.1016/J.CSR.2025.105581.
Amelia Sánchez-Pérez, Leonardo Tenorio-Fernández 1, Emmanuel Romero, Jorge Montes-Aréchiga y Laura Sánchez-Velasco 1
Based on 20 years of remote-sensing sea surface temperature (SST) data (2004–2023), the temporal persistence of thermal fronts in the Midriff Archipelago Region (MAR), was analyzed. Using the Front Probability Index and wavelet analysis, six main areas of thermal front formation were identified, along with their oscillation periods. The potential relationship between wind and the formation of thermal fronts was also examined using squared wavelet coherence analysis. The thermal front system exhibited significant seasonal variations in terms of formation, location, and intensity. Most intense fronts were formed in specific areas near both coasts, particularly during spring and summer. Most of the year, fronts in five of the six front-forming areas studied were oriented parallel to the axis of the Gulf of California, while in the remaining area they were predominantly transverse to the Gulf of California axis, mainly during winter. The primary periods of variation for thermal fronts were identified as annual and semiannual. This seasonal pattern ensures the constant presence of fronts in the MAR, highlighting the complexity and dynamics of the system. The formation of fronts is attributed to the interaction of various favorable conditions. The results revealed a high coherence between winds and SST gradients. Southerly winds, which prevail during spring and summer, enhanced the formation and distribution of thermal fronts in the western region while reducing them in the east, whereas northerly winds, dominant in fall and winter, had the opposite effect, reducing fronts in the west and intensifying them in the east. Consequently, this study provides a robust foundation for understanding the temporal and spatial variability of thermal front formation in the MAR, serving as a basis for future research on their potential and their impacts on local marine ecosystems.
Palabras clave: Thermal fronts; Front-forming areas; Seasonal variability; Wind; Spectral power; Wavelet coherence
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