HR: 0830h
AN: OS41B-0805    [PDF]
TI: Island mass effect in Marquesas Islands
AU: * Martinez, E
EM: Martinez@upf.pf
AF: Geodetic Observatory of Tahiti/JETO/Universite de la Polynesie Francaise, BP 6570 Faaa, Faaa, 98702 French Polynesia
AU: Maamaatuaiahutapu, K
EM: Keitapu.Maamaatuaiahutapu@upf.pf
AF: Geodetic Observatory of Tahiti/JETO/Universite de la Polynesie Francaise, BP 6570 Faaa, Faaa, 98702 French Polynesia
AB: As part of the Subtropical Gyre of the South Pacific Ocean, waters of the Exclusive Economical Zone of French Polynesia are poor in chlorophyll a. However, analysis of Ocean Color data from around the Marquesas Islands (135$\deg$W-145$\deg$W; 6$\deg$S-12$\deg$S) sometimes shows water with high chlorophyll a content reaching the surface. This type of event is noticeable after an El Ni¤o period and is stronger during a La Ni¤a period. The appearance of water with high chlorophyll content at the sea surface has been attributed to the island mass effect which consists of a combination of turbulent mixing and advection from the South Equatorial Current. We investigate the phenomenon in the Marquesas Islands using sea surface height, ocean color, wind and sea surface temperature data available from the period of 1997-2002. Conditions favorable to the set up of the island mass effect are determined with regard to the variability in each data set.
DE: 4223 Descriptive and regional oceanography
DE: 4279 Upwelling and convergences
DE: 4512 Currents
DE: 4572 Upper ocean processes
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting