HR: 1400h
AN: OS53A-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Interannual variability of satellite-derived productivity in the Gulf of Mexico and its association with ENSO events
AU: * Manzano-Sarabia, M M
EM: marlenne04@cibnor.mx
AF: CIBNOR, S.C., Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, BCS 23090, Mexico
AU: Kahru, M
EM: mati@spg.ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps, Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
AU: Salinas-Zavala, C A
EM: csalinas@cibnor.mx
AF: CIBNOR, S.C., Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, BCS 23090, Mexico
AB: The spatial and temporal variability of satellite-derived primary productivity indices and its relation to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) were investigated during the period 1996-2007. Time series of chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a, referred to as Chlo when derived from the standard band ratio algorithms), net primary production (NPP) and export flux of carbon (EF) were estimated using satellite-derived data from the OCTS and SeaWiFS and sea surface temperature data (SST) from the AVHRR. We also compared estimates of Chl-a using the GSM01 algorithm (ChlGSM) and discussed the influence of colored dissolved and detrital organic material (CDM). Chlo and ChlGSM were examined by the EOF method to identify areas with similar spatial and temporal variability. The first EOF derived from both sources was well correlated with the ENSO of 1997-1998, 2002 and 2004. During the 1997-1998 ENSO Chl-a was increased in the northern part (Chlo and ChlGSM increased by ~180%) but suppressed in the south-western shelf (Chlo and ChlGSM decreased by ~20%). Differences between the OC4v4 and GSM01 algorithms were higher in the northern part and were related to the influence of the CDM on Chl-a estimates. Nevertheless, the effects of the ENSO were not masked by the CDM influence as the signal was recognized on both of the Chl-a estimates. Enhanced NPP and EF were found in the south-western GoM as a response to mesoscale eddies. The overall results suggest a very large response of primary productivity and SST indices in the GoM to the ENSO forcing.
DE: 4200 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL
DE: 4500 OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly