Coastal sea surface temperature warming trend along the continental part of the Atlantic Arc (1985-2005)

Coastal warming was analyzed by means of satellite-derived sea surface temperature ( SST) along the continental part of the Atlantic Arc extending from 37 degrees N to 48 degrees N for the period 1985-2005. Interannual SST variability calculated from anomalies shows an inhomogeneous warming trend in coastal SST ( Delta SST). Coastal warming trend ranges from 3.5 degrees C 100 a(-1) at latitudes close to 48 degrees N to 1.2 degrees C 100 a(-1) at latitudes close to 37 degrees N. This warming is observed to reflect oceanic DSST which increases northward in the Atlantic area. In addition, a westward increase was also observed across the North Atlantic. Coastal warming is not constant all year long. It only occurs during spring and summer in the entire area under scope, following a trend similar to the annual one. The mean spring DSST values are 5.1 degrees C 100 a(-1) in the French coast, 4.4 degrees C 100 a(-1) in the Cantabrian coast, and 3.8 degrees C 100 a(-1) in the western Iberian Peninsula coast. Similar values ( 5.0 degrees C 100 a(-1), 3.7 degrees C 100 a(-1), and 2.7 degrees C 100 a(-1)) are observed in summer.