Oral Session 6
Wednesday, October 9
09:30–11:10
09:30-09:50 | ABSTRACT 839
Effects of the 2010-2012 multi-year La Niña event on chlorophyll-a variability in the southern Patagonian Continental Shelf
Multi-year La Niña (LN) events are responsible of higher or cumulative risks of extreme weather events worldwide and it has been addressed that in a warming climate scenario these events will occur more frequently in the next century. In this work we assess the effect of the oceanic and atmospheric teleconnections linked to a multi-year LN (2010-2012) phenomenon on the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration in the southern Patagonian Continental Shelf (SPCS), one of the most biologically productive regions and largest carbon sink in the world. Using 24-years of satellite Chl-a data, we employ two different methods to identify the consequences of this climate episode. First, we use Self-Organizing Map analysis to assess the spatial and seasonal Chl-a responses to this LN episode. Additionally, we apply Census X-13 method to identify inter-annual Chl-a variations and their relationship with atmospheric and oceanographic conditions in the SPCS. During the 2010-2012 LN event, a significant increase in Chl-a concentration was observed in the SPCS. Autumn and winter Chl-a was anomalously high, whereas during the spring-summer bloom, concentrations exceeded typical values (> two-fold). These observed anomalies were closely associated with changes in regional ocean circulation driven by La Niña induced variations in synoptic wind patterns, particularly an intensification of northward-directed currents. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the influence of global warming on the functioning of marine ecosystems at a regional scale.
Ana Delgado, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA UIB-CSIC), Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6588-6151
Vincent Combes, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA CSIC-UIB), Spain
Joan Font-Muñoz, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA CSIC-UIB), Spain
Paula Pratolongo, Centro de Recursos Naturales de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS-CONICET-UNS), Argentina
Ismael Hernandez-Carrasco, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA CSIC-UIB), Spain
Gotzon Basterretxea, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA CSIC-UIB), Spain
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