Hydrographical forcing and phytoplankton variability in two semi-enclosed estuarine bays

Hydrodynamic response in a microtidal and shallow bay under energetic wind and seiche episodes

“…Delgado 1987), in contrast to previous studies which define quasi-permanent stratification throughout the year (Llebot et al 2011).…”

“…Solé et al 2009, using Huang"s empirical mode decomposition analysis on meteorological and hydrographic time series, found that drain channels were the main factor controlling the observed stratification. In Llebot et al (2011), annual cycle analysis (and interannual) for temperature, salinity and some ecological indicators are described. Moreover, Llebot et al (2013) uses the Wedderburn number to identify wind events with enough energy to modify stratification, defining the mixed layer deepening response at wind events.…”

“…On the other hand, many studies in Alfacs hydrodynamics and similar domains have focused on wind-induced circulation and its effects on hydrography (Camp, 1994;Mancero-Mosquera et al 2010;Llebot et al 2011), but none of the aforementioned contributions have investigated in detail the influence of seiching on measured water velocities, due to the fact that most hydrodynamic studies on bays underestimate high-frequency processes averaging recorded data (hourly or even 3-hourlya averaged). For instance, Llebot et al (2013), defined seiche sea level amplitudes at an order of 10 -2 m in and tidal excursion length around 70m for 3h seiches, thus not considering oscillations with periods lower than 3h.…”

“…Hydrodynamics of this bay have been studied intensively throughout the past 30 years (Camp and Delgado 1987;Camp 1994;Solé et al 2009;Llebot et al 2011;Cerralbo et al 2014). Both Camp and Delgado (1987) and Camp (1994) analyse the hydrography of the Bay through a set of Conductivity, Temperature and Density (CTD) profilers during different periods, classifying the estuary as salt-wedge -with an almost stable stratification throughout the year-due to freshwater fluxes received from Ebro Delta drainage channels.…”

Toxigenic algae and associated phycotoxins in two coastal embayments in the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean)

“…In addition, high biomass blooms dominated by the ichthyotoxic dinoflagellates Karlodinium armiger and Karlodinium veneficum (formerly known collectively as Gyrodinium corsicum in this area, compare Garcé s et al, 2006) has led to severe fish-kills in Alfacs Bay and land-based aquaculture facilities . In Fangar Bay, no high cell abundances were detected until June 2010 (Busch et al, 2012;Ferná ndez-Tejedor et al, 2010;Llebot et al, 2011). The putative fish-killing agents known as karlotoxins have been identified for K. veneficum (Place et al, 2012) but not for K. armiger.…”