Marine and Coastal Features of the Red Sea
Patterns of algal blooming, described by variations in the abundance of planktonic agents, are considered to be indicators of the ecological balance in coastal and marine environments. A time series of chl statistical maps and anomalies, derived from data collected by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS), from January 1998 to December 2006, were considered to explore the space and time heterogeneity of algal blooming in the Red Sea. The imagery details the diverse characteristics of the northern (oligotrophic) sub-basin and the southern (mesotrophic) sub-basin, between which a central, transitional sub-basin presents more variable environmental conditions. The observed seasonal pattern is essentially bimodal, with a fall-winter period of extended blooming, followed by a spring-summer period of less intense blooming episodes, occurring in both the central sub-basin and the southern sub-basin. Overall, the annual bio-geo-chemical cycle seems to be governed by the climatic characteristics of the basin, the monsoon regime in particular, and by the ensuing thermohaline circulation. The chl interannual variability of is not very pronounced, but there are hints of a steady fall-winter maxima increase, for most of the data set considered. The chl anomalies show limited oscillations around zero over the greater part of the basin. In the south, however, negative anomalies characterize the first half of the period considered, while positive anomalies prevail in the second half. A series of odd episodes are also highlighted by both anomaly record and trend of the chl large-scale average.
BARALE Vittorio;
2008-05-07
OPOCE
JRC41911
1018-5593,
EUR 23091 EN,
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