17.09.2013: SFB754 colloquium: "Mesoscale and submesoscale processes in the Humboldt current system"

08:30h, Hörsaal WEST, GEOMAR Düsternbrooker Weg 20

Abstract

The HCS holds a persistent coastal upwelling due to the persistant alongshore winds. It is also connected with equatorial dynamics at intraseasonal to interannual time scales through coastally trapped waves. The upwelling of nutrient-replete waters gives life to a rich ecosystem, which makes the Peru region one of the most productive ones in terms of fisheries. Given the strong carbone export to depth and subsequent remineralization, an intense oxygen minimum zone develops in subsurface waters. The nearshore region is subject to meso and submesoscale variability due to baroclinic instability of the alongshore currents. Results of physical and biogeochemical modelling studies at meso and submesoscale are presented. We show recent results focusing on (1) the nearshore mesoscale variability and its impact on the near-surface heat balance, (2) the submesoscale variability, (3) the impact of cross-shore wind structure on the upwelling and productivity, (4) the impact of the remotely-forced coastal waves on the productivity.