Physical and biological features across an upwelling front in the southern Benguela

Abstract

AbstractThe upwelling front of the Cape Columbine upwelling centre was intensively studied, physically and biologically, along a repeated transect during December 1984 following a quiescent phase in the upwelling cycle. Three distinct zones were evident, an inshore zone influenced by upwelling, an offshore warm oligotrophic zone and a transitional frontal zone separating the two. Salinity proved to be a useful indicator of recent water movements. There was evidence of intrusions and mixing of water types within the frontal zone, possibly accounting for the elevated phytoplankton biomass recorded there. Floral and faunal changes occurred between the frontal and offshore zones, corresponding to the thermal front. The predominant flow was alongshore, with strong equatorward jet currents, making the interpretation of cross-shelf gradients difficult in this dynamic area. Aspects of the distributions of organisms and their productivity across the upwelling front are described with respect to the hydrographic parameters and associated flow-field.