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Ocean circulation and terrestrial runoff dynamics in the Mesoamerican region from spectral optimization of SeaWiFS data and a high resolution simulation

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Abstract

The evolution in time and space of terrestrial runoff in waters of the Mesoamerican region was examined using remote sensing techniques combined with river discharge and numerical ocean circulation models. Ocean color SeaWiFS images were processed using a new Spectral Optimization Algorithm for atmospheric correction and ocean property retrieval in Case-2 waters. A total of 157 SeaWiFS images were collected between 1997 and 2006 and processed to produce Colored Detrital Material images of the Mesoamerican waters. Monthly terrestrial runoff load and river discharge computed with a land-elevation model were used as input to a numerical model, which simulated the transport of buoyant matter from terrestrial runoff. Based on land cover for years 2003–2004, modeling results showed that the river discharge seasonality was correlated with the image averaged CDM, and the simulated plume reproduces the spatial patterns and temporal evolution of the observed CDM plume. River discharge peaked in August and CDM peaked from September to January. The buoyant matter concentration was high from October to January, and was at its lowest from March to April. Between October and December the plume was transported out of the Mesoamerican waters by a cyclonic gyre located north of Honduras. Part of the runoff from Honduras was transported towards Chinchorro Banks and the Yucatan Channel, part re-circulated into the Gulf of Honduras, and part taken toward the outside of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. This study shows that all the reefs of the MBRS, including the most offshore atolls of the region, are under the influence of terrestrial runoff on a seasonal basis, with maximum effect during October to January, and minimum from March to April. Furthermore, what is seen as a giant plume in satellite images is in fact composed of runoffs of different ages.

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Acknowledgments

This MAR modeling project was jointly funded by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The authors are grateful to Lauretta Burke (WRI), Nestor Vindevoxhel (TNC) and Alejandro Arrivillaga (TNC) for providing the funding; to Villy Kourafalou for sharing computer resources at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) for this project, and to Johnathan Kool (RSMAS) for technical assistance with GIS processing. C.Paris was also funded by the World Bank/GEF Coral Reef Target Research Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA

    L. M. Chérubin

  2. Department of Physics, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA

    C. P. Kuchinke

  3. Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33101, USA

    C. B. Paris

Authors
  1. L. M. Chérubin
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  2. C. P. Kuchinke
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  3. C. B. Paris
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Correspondence to L. M. Chérubin.

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Communicated by Biology Editor M.P. Lesser.

Appendix

Appendix

River water transported to the oceans can be thought of as being made up of, in addition to water, a number of components:

  1. 1.

    PIC (Particulate Inorganic Carbon) = Al, Fe, Si, Ca, K, Mg, Na and P. Alternate names: suspended inorganic matter; sediment. The terms sediment is ambiguous. It implies deposition which is dependent on velocity, density and salinity.

  2. 2.

    Dissolved major species, comprising elements with no gaseous phase in the atmosphere (e.g., Cl−, Na+, HCO3−, Mg2+, K+) and elements with gaseous phases (e.g., SO 2−4 , HCO −3 ), with the latter derived from atmospheric gases (egg., SO2 and CO2, respectively), as well as from rocks.

  3. 3.

    Dissolved nutrient elements N, P (and sometimes Si), which are used biologically and whose concentrations vary due to this.

  4. 4.

    DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon). Alternate name: dissolved organic matter. This is primarily sourced from soils and plants.

  5. 5.

    POC (Particulate Organic Carbon) = phytoplankton and detritus (plant material). Alternate name: suspended organic matter.

  6. 6.

    Dissolved trace metals.

  7. 7.

    Suspended trace metals.

From the above list, Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) will contain PIC, POC and suspended trace metals, the suspended terms.

Buoyant Matter will contain ALL terms; however the amount of PIC will depend on the rate of deposition and re suspension from the source.

The ROMS model will invariably replicate the transport of Buoyant Matter.

The SOA model produces CDM, the absorption coefficient of Colored Detrital Material. This is comprised of two components

  1. 1.

    The absorption coefficient of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), one component of DOC.

  2. 2.

    The absorption coefficient of detrital particles, one component of POC.

Therefore the spatial and temporal trends in CDM can be used as a surrogate for Buoyant Matter.

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Chérubin, L.M., Kuchinke, C.P. & Paris, C.B. Ocean circulation and terrestrial runoff dynamics in the Mesoamerican region from spectral optimization of SeaWiFS data and a high resolution simulation. Coral Reefs 27, 503–519 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0348-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0348-1

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