Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data

The Mexican Tropical Pacific has oligotrophic characteristics; however, it sustains an abundant biodiversity, mainly because of upwelling promoted by its relatively shallow thermocline, strong winds and mesoscale eddies. These features, together with thermocline depth and stratification variability...

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Main Authors: J López-Calderón, H Manzo-Monroy, E Santamaría-del-Ángel, R Castro, A González-Silvera, R Millán-Núñez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California 2006-10-01
Series:Ciencias Marinas
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1125
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author J López-Calderón
H Manzo-Monroy
E Santamaría-del-Ángel
R Castro
A González-Silvera
R Millán-Núñez
author_facet J López-Calderón
H Manzo-Monroy
E Santamaría-del-Ángel
R Castro
A González-Silvera
R Millán-Núñez
author_sort J López-Calderón
collection DOAJ
description The Mexican Tropical Pacific has oligotrophic characteristics; however, it sustains an abundant biodiversity, mainly because of upwelling promoted by its relatively shallow thermocline, strong winds and mesoscale eddies. These features, together with thermocline depth and stratification variability, are the main factors regulating phytoplankton abundance. We analyzed the seasonal and interannual variability associated with eddy activity and phytoplankton abundance, both measured indirectly by sea level anomalies (TOPEX/Poseidon) and surface chlorophyll a (SeaWiFS). Data analysis was based on their average fields, canonical correlations and empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). The first two EOFs of sea level anomaly (SLA) and surface chlorophyll a (CHL) accounted for the variability associated with the formation of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies near the gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo during winter and spring. Both types of eddies were related to local increases in CHL. The signal of the eddies was observed along 10°N as far as 150°W. The variability associated with cyclonic eddies was more important than that associated with anticyclonic eddies. This behavior is opposite to what is commonly accepted. Along the equator, negative SLAs were coupled with high CHL as a consequence of the shoaling of the thermocline followed by nutrient enrichment of the euphotic zone. Positive SLAs coupled with high CHL off South America are a result of the permanent upwelling promoted by the Peru-Chile Current. The effects of the El Niño-La Niña conditions were detected in five of the seven EOFs analyzed.
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spelling doaj.art-911e33cfa5994e598c96f2a295ebada52024-03-04T16:45:59ZengUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaCiencias Marinas0185-38802395-90532006-10-0132310.7773/cm.v32i3.1125Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS dataJ López-Calderón0H Manzo-Monroy1E Santamaría-del-Ángel2R Castro3A González-Silvera4R Millán-Núñez5Universidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaUniversidad Autónoma de Baja California The Mexican Tropical Pacific has oligotrophic characteristics; however, it sustains an abundant biodiversity, mainly because of upwelling promoted by its relatively shallow thermocline, strong winds and mesoscale eddies. These features, together with thermocline depth and stratification variability, are the main factors regulating phytoplankton abundance. We analyzed the seasonal and interannual variability associated with eddy activity and phytoplankton abundance, both measured indirectly by sea level anomalies (TOPEX/Poseidon) and surface chlorophyll a (SeaWiFS). Data analysis was based on their average fields, canonical correlations and empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). The first two EOFs of sea level anomaly (SLA) and surface chlorophyll a (CHL) accounted for the variability associated with the formation of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies near the gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo during winter and spring. Both types of eddies were related to local increases in CHL. The signal of the eddies was observed along 10°N as far as 150°W. The variability associated with cyclonic eddies was more important than that associated with anticyclonic eddies. This behavior is opposite to what is commonly accepted. Along the equator, negative SLAs were coupled with high CHL as a consequence of the shoaling of the thermocline followed by nutrient enrichment of the euphotic zone. Positive SLAs coupled with high CHL off South America are a result of the permanent upwelling promoted by the Peru-Chile Current. The effects of the El Niño-La Niña conditions were detected in five of the seven EOFs analyzed. http://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1125Mexican Tropical Pacificmesoscale eddiessea level anomalychlorophyll astratification
spellingShingle J López-Calderón
H Manzo-Monroy
E Santamaría-del-Ángel
R Castro
A González-Silvera
R Millán-Núñez
Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data
Ciencias Marinas
Mexican Tropical Pacific
mesoscale eddies
sea level anomaly
chlorophyll a
stratification
title Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data
title_full Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data
title_fullStr Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data
title_full_unstemmed Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data
title_short Mesoscale variability of the Mexican Tropical Pacific using TOPEX and SeaWiFS data
title_sort mesoscale variability of the mexican tropical pacific using topex and seawifs data
topic Mexican Tropical Pacific
mesoscale eddies
sea level anomaly
chlorophyll a
stratification
url http://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1125
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