Hydrographic Conditions (hydrographic + condition)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sea-surface temperature and salinity changes in the northwest Pacific since the Last Glacial Maximum

JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 4 2004
Tadamichi Oba
Abstract The oxygen isotope records of both benthic and planktonic Foraminifera in five piston cores, collected from the region between the Oyashio and Kuroshio Currents near Japan, clearly show the marked latitudinal shifts of these two currents during the past 25,kyr. Under the present hydrographic condition, a clear relationship between the sea-surface temperature (SST) and oxygen isotope differences from benthic to planktonic Foraminifera is observed in this region. Using this relationship, we find decreased SSTs of 12,13°C (maximum 15°C) in the southernmost core site at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), indicating the Oyashio Current shifted southward. The SSTs at the southern two core sites abruptly increased more than 10°C at 10,11,ka, suggesting the Kuroshio Current shifted northward over these sites at 10,11,ka. In contrast, the northern two core sites have remained under the influence of the cold Oyashio Current for the past 25,kyr. With the reasonable estimate of bottom-water temperature decrease of 2.5°C at the LGM, the SSTs estimated by this new method give exactly the same SST values calculated from Mg/Ca ratio of planktonic Foraminifera, allowing palaeosea-surface salinities to be reconstructed. The result suggests that the ice volume effect was 1.0,±,0.1, at the LGM. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Time series analyses reveal transient relationships between abundance of larval anchovy and environmental variables in the coastal waters southwest of Taiwan

FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2009
CHIH-HAO HSIEH
Abstract We investigated environmental effects on larval anchovy fluctuations (based on CPUE from 1980 to 2000) in the waters off southwestern Taiwan using advanced time series analyses, including the state-space approach to remove seasonality, wavelet analysis to investigate transient relationships, and stationary bootstrap to test correlation between time series. For large-scale environmental effects, we used the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) to represent the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO); for local hydrographic conditions, we used sea surface temperature (SST), river runoff, and mixing conditions. Whereas the anchovy catch consisted of a northern species (Engraulis japonicus) and two southern species (Encrasicholina heteroloba and Encrasicholina punctifer), the magnitude of the anchovy catch appeared to be mainly determined by the strength of Eng. japonicus (Japanese anchovy). The main factor that caused the interannual variation of anchovy CPUE might change through time. The CPUE showed a negative correlation with combination of water temperature and river runoff before 1987 and a positive correlation with river runoff after 1988. Whereas a significant negative correlation between CPUE and ENSOs existed, this correlation was driven completely by the low-frequency ENSO events and explained only 10% of the variance. Several previous studies on this population emphasized that the fluctuations of larval anchovy abundance were determined by local SST. Our analyses indicated that such a correlation was transient and simply reflected ENSO signals. Recent advances in physical oceanography around Taiwan showed that the ENSOs reduced the strength of the Asian monsoon and thus weakened the China Coastal Current toward Taiwan. The decline of larval anchovy during ENSO may be due to reduced China Coastal Current, which is important in facilitating the spawning migration of the Japanese anchovy. [source]


Process-based model for direct and indirect effects of hydrographic conditions on Central Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) egg mortality

FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2008
K. H. ANDERSEN
Abstract A process-oriented model for the mortality of eggs of cod Gadus morhua in the Central Baltic Sea is developed, based on a synthesis of existing knowledge of the effects of salinity, oxygen and predation by sprat Sprattus sprattus. The models show the importance of the vertical and temporal overlap between eggs and predations. Effects related to the changing buoyancy of the eggs due to age and size of the mother fish, batch number and stock structure are not of major importance for the egg survival of this stock. It is demonstrated that under the present high sprat predation pressure, the observed delay in spawning time has increased egg survival. [source]


Modelling potential spawning habitat of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the Bay of Biscay

FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2007
BENJAMIN PLANQUE
Abstract Large amplitude variations in recruitment of small pelagic fish result from interactions between a fluctuating environment and population dynamics processes such as spawning. The spatial extent and location of spawning, which is critical to the fate of eggs and larvae, can vary strongly from year to year, as a result of changing population structure and environmental conditions. Spawning habitat can be divided into ,potential spawning habitat', defined as habitat where the hydrographic conditions are suitable for spawning, ,realized spawning habitat', defined as habitat where spawning actually occurs, and ,successful spawning habitat', defined as habitat from where successful recruitment has resulted. Using biological data collected during the period 2000,2004, as well as hydrographic data, we investigate the role of environmental parameters in controlling the potential spawning habitat of anchovy and sardine in the Bay of Biscay. Anchovy potential spawning habitat appears to be primarily related to bottom temperature followed by surface temperature and mixed-layer depth, whilst surface and bottom salinity appear to play a lesser role. The possible influence of hydrographic factors on the spawning habitat of sardine seems less clear than for anchovy. Modelled relationships between anchovy and sardine spawning are used to predict potential spawning habitat from hydrodynamical simulations. The results show that the seasonal patterns in spawning are well reproduced by the model, indicating that hydrographic changes may explain a large fraction of spawning spatial dynamics. Such models may prove useful in the context of forecasting potential impacts of future environmental changes on sardine and anchovy reproductive strategy in the north-east Atlantic. [source]


Effects of decadal climate change on zooplankton over the last 50 years in the western subarctic North Pacific

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
SANAE CHIBA
Abstract Decadal- to multi-decadal variations have been reported in many regional ecosystems in the North Pacific, resulting in an increasing demand to elucidate the link between long-term climatic forcing and marine ecosystems. We detected phenological and quantitative changes in the copepod community in response to the decadal climatic variation in the western subarctic North Pacific by analyzing the extensive zooplankton collection taken since the 1950s, the Odate Collection. Copepod species were classified into five seasonal groups depending on the timing of the annual peak in abundance. The abundance of the spring community gradually increased for the period 1960,2002. The spring,summer community also showed an increasing trend in May, but a decadal oscillation pattern of quasi-30-year cycles in July. Phenological changes coincided with the climate regime shift in the mid-1970s, indicated by the Pacific decadal oscillation index (PDO). After the regime shift, the timing of the peak abundance was delayed one month, from March,April to April,May, in the spring community, whereas it peaked earlier, from June,July to May,June, in the spring,summer community, resulting in an overlap of the high productivity period for the two communities in May. Wintertime cooling, followed by rapid summertime warming, was considered to be responsible for delayed initiation and early termination of the productive season after the mid-1970s. Another phenological shift, quite different from the previous decade, was observed in the mid-1990s, when warm winters followed by cool summers lengthened the productive season. The results suggest that climatic forcing with different decadal cycles may operate independently during winter,spring and spring,summer to create seasonal and interannual variations in hydrographic conditions; thus, combinations of these seasonal processes may determine the annual biological productivity. [source]


Review of aquaculture, its regulation and monitoring in Scotland

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 4-5 2000
A. R. Henderson
Summary The aquaculture industry in Scotland is primarily located on the western and northern coasts of Scotland where geographical and hydrographic conditions suit the species cultured. The regulation and monitoring of the industry has adapted and grown with the industry. Over 10 years, production has increased 10-fold and the efficiency of the industry has improved along with husbandry and management techniques although major disease problems have occurred. Planning and siting controls have recently been reviewed incorporating new EC legislation on environmental impact assessment. Environmental protection and end product quality are achieved through complex legislation demanding licences to discharge waste products and the application of strict quality standards and targets to both the product and its growing and receiving environment. Monitoring programmes are well established to ensure compliance with the legislation. The complexity of issues the industry now poses for regulation and monitoring have challenged traditional views and required new techniques to be developed, for example, mathematical modelling to set environmental targets for some medicines. A national approach has been needed which will benefit the industry and the regulators and allow focus to be brought to wider issues requiring research and development. [source]


Incidence and severity of marine borer attack at different depths at Mtongwe Jetty Pontoon Mombasa, Kenya

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
P. K. Sirmah
Abstract The activity of marine borers was investigated at Mtongwe Jetty Pontoon, Mombasa, Kilindini harbour using untreated panels of Pinus patula (Schlecht) submerged to different depths. Twenty test panels replicated over 7 months were each strung in three ladder-like frames using nylon twine and suspended vertically, in such a way that the top most panels were 25 cm below the water surface at low and high tide. Monthly observations were made between January and July for the vertical incidence and extent of marine borer attack following the technique of Bobat (1995). Marine borers were collected from test panels, identified and counted. In addition, the percentage weight loss for panels at different depths was determined at the end of 7 months. Teredo fulleri (Clapp) was dominant on panels near water surface while Martesia striata (Linne) and Lyrodus pedicellatus (Quatrefages) were predominant at the bottom. The results showed that attack began within the first month of exposure and was severest by the seventh month. The vertical incidence and extent of attack decreased with increasing depth of panel exposure and was negatively correlated with depth. This is attributed to changes in hydrographic conditions. Résumé L'activité des foreurs marins a étéétudiée dans le Ponton de Mtongwe Jetty, Mombasa, dans le port de Kilindini, en utilisant des panneaux de Pinus patula (Schlecht) non traités, plongés à différentes profondeurs. Vingt panneaux tests identiques ont été attachés avec des cordes de nylon pour former trois cadres ressemblant à des échelles et suspendus pendant sept mois verticalement de façon à ce que les panneaux supérieurs se trouvent à 25 cm sous la surface à marée basse et haute. L'on a fait des observations mensuelles entre janvier et juillet de l'occurrence verticale et l'étendue de l'attaque des foreurs marins en utilisant la technique de Bobat (1995). Les foreurs marins ont été collectés sur les panneaux tests, identifiés et comptés. De plus, on a déterminé le pourcentage de la perte de poids des panneaux aux différentes profondeurs à la fin des sept mois. Teredo fulleri (Clapp) était dominant sur les panneaux situés près de la surface de l'eau alors que Martesia striata (Linné) et Lyrodus pedicellatus (Quatrefages) étaient prédominants en profondeur. Les résultats ont montré que l'attaque a commencé dès le premier mois et que c'est alors qu'elle fut la plus sévère. L'occurrence verticale et l'étendue de l'attaque diminuaient quand le panneau était plus profond et étaient négativement liées à la profondeur. Cela est attribué aux changements des conditions hydrographiques. [source]


Late Holocene environmental change in Disko Bugt, west Greenland: interaction between climate, ocean circulation and Jakobshavn Isbrae

BOREAS, Issue 1 2006
JEREMY M. LLOYD
Foraminiferal assemblages and the sedimentology of two cores (POR20 and POR21) from eastern Disko Bugt, west Greenland, are used to identify environmental changes in the area over the past c. 2200 years. Changes in the sediment flux supplied to the core sites from Jakobshavn Isbrae are used to assess the relative position of the calving margin. An Atlantic water influence as strong as, or slightly stronger than, present prevailed at c. 2200 cal. yr BP. A trend of increasing Atlantic water influence then culminated in peak warm and saline hydrographic conditions c. 1664,474 cal. yr BP encompassing the ,Medieval Warm Period'. This period was marked by a retreat of the calving front of Jakobshavn Isbrae and was followed by a marked cooling in hydrographic conditions relating to an increase in the influence of the East Greenland Current in the West Greenland Current corresponding to the climatic episode the ,Little Ice Age'. A rise in sedimentation rate over this period relates to the well-documented advance of Jakobshavn Isbrae. The record from Disko Bugt shows good agreement with the temperature record from the Greenland ice cores and other climatic and oceanographic reconstructions in the region. [source]