The reduction of plankton biomass induced by mesoscale stirring: a modelling study in the Benguela upwelling
By I. Hernández-Carrasco, V. Rossi, E. Hernández-García, V. Garçon and C. López
Poster presented at the EUR-OCEANS Hot Topics Conference: A Changing Ocean, PLOCAN, Gran Canaria, Spain, 6-8 November 2013
To better understand the reduction of biological productivity due to vigorous stirring in upwelling areas, we consider a system of oceanic flow in the Benguela area (from satellite data and a numerical model at two spatial resolutions) coupled with a simple Nutrient-Phyto-Zooplankton (NPZ) model. The reduction of biological activity under increased stirring, as e.g. in the south Benguela, is correctly simulated. 2D offshore advection and latitudinal difference in Primary Production, also mediated by the flow, seem to be the dominant processes involved. We estimate that mesoscale processes are responsible for 30-50% of the offshore fluxes of biological tracers. In the northern area, other factors not taken into account in our simulation are influencing the ecosystem.
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