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We present a binned product of sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity and sea surface density data in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre for the 1993-2017 that resolves seasonal variability along specific ship routes (doi:10.6096/SSS-BIN-NASG). The characteristics of this product are described and validated through comparisons to other monthly products. Data presented in this work was collected in regions crossed by two predetermined ship transects, between Denmark and western Greenland (AX01) and between Iceland, Newfoundland, and the northeastern USA (AX02). The analysis and the strong correlation between successive seasons indicate that in large parts of the subpolar gyre, the binning approach is robust and resolves the seasonal time scales, in particular after 1997 and in regions away from the continental shelf. Prior to 2002, there was no winter sampling over the west Greenland shelf. Variability in sea surface salinity increases towards Newfoundland south of 54°N, as well as in the western Iceland Basin along 59°N. Variability in sea surface temperature presents less spatial structure with an increase westward and towards Newfoundland. The contribution of temperature variability to density dominates in the eastern part of the gyre, whereas the contribution of salinity variability dominates in the southwestern part along AX02. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underway fCO has been measured from two merchant ships sailing from France to French Guyana and France to Brazil, and during two zonal cruises from Africa to French Guyana. In the western Tropical Atlantic, the strongest undersaturation is associated with the Amazon discharge near 55°W. In the 5°S-10°N, 65-35°W region, the carbon system is strongly correlated to salinity and robust empirical relationships could be determined. This region is a sink of CO in May-June during the high-flow period of the Amazon river. The eastward propagation of Amazon waters is observed when the retroflection of the North Brazil Current takes place. In August 2008, freshwater is observed as far as 40°W when the North Equatorial Counter Current is quite strong. The Amazon plume, defined as salinities less than 34.9, is a sink of CO of 0.96 mmol m d. Further east, near 27°W, CO undersaturation is recorded thoughout the year between 5°N and 8°N. This is caused by the high precipitation associated with the presence of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Removing the temperature effect leads to low (high) fCO associated with low (high) salinities in boreal summer (winter), which is consistent with the seasonal migration of the ITCZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]