Dynamics of dissolved inorganic carbon in the Midriff Islands region of the Gulf of California: Influence of water masses

In the Midriff Islands region (MIR) of the Gulf of California (Mexico), tidal mixing plays a very important role in the distribution of chemical properties. Although the temporal variability of the water masses is linked to the ocean dynamics of this region, its importance has not been considered. T...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: José Martín Hernández-Ayón, Cecilia Chapa-Balcorta, Francisco Delgadillo-Hinojosa, Víctor Froylan Camacho-Ibar, Miguel Angel Huerta-Díaz, Eduardo Santamaría-del-Angel, Salvador Galindo-Bect, José Antonio Segovia-Zavala
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:México
Institución:Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Repositorio:Redalyc-UABC
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:48027857006
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=48027857006
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias de la Tierra
vertical mixing
Ballenas Channel
Gulf of California
coastal DIC studies
Dissolved inorganic carbon
Descripción
Sumario:In the Midriff Islands region (MIR) of the Gulf of California (Mexico), tidal mixing plays a very important role in the distribution of chemical properties. Although the temporal variability of the water masses is linked to the ocean dynamics of this region, its importance has not been considered. This work estimates the effect of water mass dynamics on the spatial distribution and seasonal variation of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the region, with special emphasis on the Ballenas Channel, during winter 2002, spring 2003, and summer 2004. Gulf of California Water (GCW) was found throughout the area in the first 100 m. Below, Subtropical Subsurface Water (SSW) filled the Delfín, Salsipuedes, and Tiburón basins, while to the southeast it was found between 150 and 350 m. Pacific Intermediate Water did not cross the sills. SSW enriches the surface water of the MIR with DIC when it increases in volume and when mixed with GCW by tidal effects. This contribution decreases towards summertime, when SSW sinks and the volume of GCW increases. In winter, GCW had three water types associated with oceanographic mixing processes and in combination with the presence of SSW. There was a strong DIC vs temperature relationship, which can be applied to analyze the carbon dynamics in the MIR, both at the surface using satellite imagery and vertically to simulate physical processes.