What oceanographic processes influence jellyfish blooms?5 answersOceanographic processes influencing jellyfish blooms include temperature variations, advection by geostrophic flow, and tidal movements. Temperature changes in seawater, driven by climate change and eutrophication, play a significant role in inducing jellyfish blooms. Geostrophic flow and the presence of canyons can concentrate jellyfish populations, leading to outbreaks in specific areas. Additionally, tidal movements and diel vertical movements affect the drifting pathways of jellyfish larvae, influencing their distribution and aggregation patterns. These processes interact with jellyfish physiology, life history, and environmental conditions to create favorable conditions for jellyfish blooms, highlighting the complex interplay between environmental factors and jellyfish population dynamics.
What is the impact of oceanography on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem?5 answersOceanography has a significant impact on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. The warming temperatures and slowdown of ocean circulation due to climate change result in decreased oxygen levels in the water, leading to hypoxic conditions and reduced biodiversity. The Macondo oil spill in 2010 highlighted the need to understand the transport and fate of hydrocarbons in the Gulf, as well as their impact on the ecosystem. The Gulf of Mexico is a natural hydrocarbon basin, with both natural seepage and occasional intense oil spills affecting the biological components of the system. Mesoscale oceanographic features, such as anticyclonic and cyclonic patterns, influence pelagic food webs in the Gulf, with higher biomass and enriched nitrogen levels observed in cyclonic features. Understanding and predicting the impacts of these oceanographic factors is crucial for managing and mitigating the effects of extreme events, oil spills, and long-term trends in the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
What has been done on POc in the labrador sea?4 answersThe coupled physical-biogeochemical ocean model (OPA-PISCES) was used to study coupled physical-biogeochemical variability in the Labrador Sea. The model was implemented for three monitoring stations in the Labrador Sea, and the hindcasting results for 1994 were validated with available observations. The study also investigated the interannual variability of Labrador Sea density and found that salinity dominates in observations and assimilation, while temperature dominates in hindcasts after the first year. The hindcasts showed high correlation skill in temperature and salinity, but no skill in density, dynamic sea-level, or the subpolar AMOC due to incorrect drivers. The results highlight the importance of correctly simulating temperature and salinity variability for accurate prediction of Labrador Sea density and AMOC dynamics.
What is mwd in oceanography?4 answersThe mixed layer depth (MLD) is a parameter used in oceanography to define the region of the ocean directly influenced by the atmosphere. It is determined using density/temperature (hD) or dissipation (hϵ) measurements. The MLD derived from dissipation measurements represents the variability in the mixed layer more accurately, as it is more strongly correlated with the main sources of turbulence in the upper ocean. Dissipation measurements have become more operational with the development of ocean microstructure technology, making it appropriate to adopt hϵ for estimating the MLD in the future. This is supported by the fact that hD typically overestimates the MLD compared to hϵ. Using dissipation measurements for estimating the MLD has implications for studies where the extent of mixing in the upper ocean is represented by hD.
What is the name of the ocean in Cape Town?3 answersCape Town is located at the southern tip of Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.
How has the oceanography of the Belgian part of the North Sea changed over time?5 answersThe oceanography of the Belgian part of the North Sea has undergone changes over time. A recent time series analysis of copepod abundance data revealed distinct discrepancies in copepod phenology, abundances, and total biomass between nearshore and offshore regions. The nearshore area showed an altered copepod dynamics with a single annual spring peak and no autumn peak, while the offshore stations exhibited an autumn peak and an additional early spring peak. Anomalies in copepod abundance and biomass were detected in 2018 and 2019, potentially caused by heat waves and phytoplankton autumn blooms. Additionally, a three-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate hydrodynamic processes in the North Sea and the Belgian Continental Shelf, providing a basis for operational and forecasting tools for the Belgian coastal zone. Long-term data series for the Belgian coastal water and sand bank systems have been generated, including data on nutrients, pigments, suspended matter, and turbidity.