Satellite‐derived data provide the temporal means and seasonal and nonseasonal variability of four physical and biological parameters off Oregon and Washington (41°–48.5°N). Eight years of data (1998–2005) are available for surface chlorophyll concentrations, sea surface temperature (SST), and sea surface height, while six years of data (2000–2005) are available for surface wind stress. Strong cross‐shelf and alongshore variability is apparent in the temporal mean and seasonal climatology of all four variables. Two latitudinal regions are identified and separated at 44°–46°N, where the coastal ocean experiences a change in the direction of the mean alongshore wind stress, is influenced by topographic features, and has differing exposure to the Columbia River Plume. All these factors may play a part in defining the distinct regimes in the northern and southern regions. Nonseasonal signals account for ∼60–75% of the dynamical variables. An empirical orthogonal function analysis shows stronger intra‐annual variability for alongshore wind, coastal SST, and surface chlorophyll, with stronger interannual variability for surface height. Interannual variability can be caused by distant forcing from equatorial and basin‐scale changes in circulation, or by more localized changes in regional winds, all of which can be found in the time series. Correlations are mostly as expected for upwelling systems on intra‐annual timescales. Correlations of the interannual timescales are complicated by residual quasi‐annual signals created by changes in the timing and strength of the seasonal cycles. Examination of the interannual time series, however, provides a convincing picture of the covariability of chlorophyll, surface temperature, and surface height, with some evidence of regional wind forcing.
Seasonal anomalies of salinity, phytoplankton chlorophyll a, and zooplankton volume off Baja California were examined from data obtained during 2001-2007. The analyses helped to identify a strong effect of physical processes on the pelagic ecosystem, diminishing near surface salinity and water column integrated phytoplankton biomass, and enhancing zooplankton volume. These changes are associated with an increase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index, characterizing a warm phase of the index from summer 2002 to at least summer 2006. Negative chlorophyll a anomalies appear to respond to zooplankton grazing activity, with a possible "top down" effect during this period. Empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) of Ekman drift reveal the seasonal and interannual patterns that describe the influence of upwelling zones, and there was a strong response to changes in the equatorward wind forcing from 2002 to 2006. The relationship between negative salinity anomalies and the two temporal EOF modes of Ekman drift was evident as a result of relaxation of coastal upwelling during this period. After 2006, the PDO index showed more neutral or negative values, defining the beginning of a cool phase, with positive nearsurface salinity anomalies off Baja California.
La recopilación de información histórica, tales como mediciones de corrientes, oleaje y viento no ha sido suficiente para describir la dinámica del seno Reloncaví. Sin embargo, a pesar de la información parcelada, las altas magnitudes de corrientes en las zonas de Chaica, Quillaipe y El Paso Nao nos permiten inducir que las corrientes baroclínicas modulan fuertemente la dinámica de la cuenca. Por otro lado, los vientos mostraron una alta variabilidad estacional y son modulados por la línea de costa, siendo estos en parte responsables de la circulación y el oleaje superficial. Además, la circulación superficial en los primeros 10 m esta fuertemente modulada por el ingreso de aguas dulce del estuario de Reloncaví. Además, la máxima amplitud del nivel del mar es de 7.64 m, con una amplitud promedio de 7.46 m, y donde la mayor parte de la variabilidad del nivel del mar esta asociada a la marea. Finalmente, para describir el comportamiento del oleaje se comparan el método empírico de Massel con el modelo numérico del Mike21. Resultando que el clima de ola estaría siendo modificado por la gran variabilidad espacial y
The response of primary producers to seasonal and interannual variabilities in the hydrographic conditions observed between 1997 and 2012 is analyzed for the southern portion of the California Current System (CCS). The analysis uses the optimum rate of primary productivity (PP) normalized by units of chlorophyll (Chla) in the water column () and Chla concentration. In situ PP estimations using the 14 C method were obtained as part of the seasonal cruises conducted by the Investigaciones Mexicanas de la Corriente de California program. Supplementary data included sea surface temperature (SST) as measured by the AVHRR sensor from 1985-2009. We found the mean value of to be at 5.1 ± 3.3 mg C•(mg Chla)-1 •h-1 , with maximum ranges of 0.5 and 17.5 mg C•(mg Chla)-1 •h-1. The relationship between and SST suggested a phytoplankton community change at around 19 ºC, which characterized the transitional nature of the southern portion of the CCS. SST data suggested, on the one hand, that on average the 19 ºC isotherm is located in the vicinity of Punta Eugenia and, on the other, that its spatial variability defined the alternating cool-warm conditions. At the seasonal scale, this isotherm showed a marked latitudinal displacement (from 24ºN to 32ºN), which was observed to be even out of this range during interannual events associated with El Niño/La Niña. Under both cool-warm hydrographic conditions, the phytoplanktonic community showed large rates (~6 mg C•(mg Chla)-1 •h-1). At the interannual scale, changes were associated to changes in the abundance and composition of nano-microphytoplankton. Additionally, data suggested that high PP rates during warm periods could be attributed to an enhanced picoplankton contribution.
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