Seasonal variability of vertical patterns in chlorophyll-a fluorescence in the coastal waters off Kimbiji, Tanzania

Abstract

A study on the vertical pattern of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) fluorescence was undertaken in the Mafia Channel offKimbiji, Tanzania. Data was collected during the Southeast Monsoon (SEM) and Northeast Monsoon (NEM) seasons. There was higher Chl-a concentration of 0.1 to 1.1 mgm-3 in the surface layer off Kimbiji to about 50 m depth due to the presence of mixed layer depth (MLD) which allowed water mixing in the layer. A deep Chl-a maximum was recorded at around 40 m depth during the NEM and between 40 and 70 m in the SEM. Surface water between longitude 39.9°E and 40.2°E had low Chl-a from the surface to about 50 m depth due to poor nutrient input. The NEM had an insignificantly higher Chl-a value than the SEM (p > 0.05) which differed from other studies in which Chl-a was higher during the SEM than the NEM, than, the Chl-a concentration was higher at the surface during the SEM than during the NEM. Satellite data showed higher Chl-a in the SEM than NEM, localized along the Mafia Channel. During the SEM season the wind pushes higher Chl-a water from the Mafia Channel towards the north and leads to a higher concentration at Kimbiji.