Journal de biologie marine et d'océanographie

Impact of Inter-annual Coastal Upwelling Variability (2001-2010) on the Productivity of the Moroccan Atlantic South Area (21°-26°N)

Jamila Larissi, Amina Berraho, Ahmed Makaoui, Tarik Baibai, Laila Somoue, Aissa Benazzouz, Soukaina Zizah, Abdelaziz Agouzouk and Karim Hilmi

Impact of Inter-annual Coastal Upwelling Variability (2001-2010) on the Productivity of the Moroccan Atlantic South Area (21° - 26°N)

The pelagic ecosystem of the Moroccan Atlantic coast is mainly governed by the upwelling variability. The area between Cape Boujdor (26°N) and Cape Blanc (21°N) was water sampled annually during winter and summer from 2000 to 2010. This area is characterized by intense coastal upwelling which’s highly variable (seasons and in space basis) and with an active centre localized at 25° 30’N section.
Additionally to the in-situ data, satellite data was used for a synoptic view and for a complementary inter- annual study of upwelling impact on the coastal ecosystem. Evolution of physical and chemical parameters such as temperature (in situ and from satellite), salinity and nutrients, display a low activity of upwelling during the last autumn (2010) in comparison with the high activity during 2007- 2008.