Bisman Nababan

Chlorophyll variability in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Changes in chlorophyll concentration distribution in surface waters of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (NEGOM) were examined using satellite and in situ data collected between November 1997 and August 2000. The patterns of chlorophyll distribution derived from in situ data consistently matched the satellite observations, even though the satellite-derived concentrations in coastal and offshore waters influenced by rivers were overestimated by the standard satellite data processing algorithms. River discharge and wind-driven upwelling were the major factors influencing surface chlorophyll-a variability for inshore regions. High in situ chlorophyll-a concentrations (≥1 mg m−3) occurred inshore and particularly near major river mouths during the summer seasons of 1998, 1999 and 2000. Plumes of Mississippi River water extended offshore to the southeast of the delta over distances >500 km from the river delta for maximum periods of 14 weeks between May and September every year and could reach the Florida Keys in certain years. The offshore transport of the plume was initiated by eastward or southeastward winds and then by separate anticyclonic eddies located southeast of the Mississippi delta and nearby shelf every year. Chlorophyll concentrations during the winter to spring transition in 1998 off Escambia, Choctawhatchee, Apalachicola and Suwannee Rivers and off Tampa Bay were up to 4 times higher than during the same periods in 1999 and 2000. This was related to higher freshwater discharge during the 1997–1998 winter–spring transition, coinciding with an El Niño–Southern Oscillation event, and to the unusually strong upwelling observed along the coast in spring 1998.

Variability of satellite-derived sea surface height anomaly, and its relationship with Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) catch in the Eastern Indian Ocean

Abstract We analyzed the variability of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA), and its relationship with Bigeye tuna catch in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) off of Java Island (Indonesia). Both time series of SSHA and Bigeye tuna HR show dominant signals corresponding to the annual and inter-annual variability. During the southeast monsoon the wind blows along southern coast of Java and produces coastal upwelling. This causes sea level to drop due to an offshore Ekman transport, and thermocline becomes shallower. During El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) positive phase, upwelling is more intense and a large cold eddy forms in the EIO off Java. Generally, Bigeye tuna HR tends to increase during upwelling seasons and becomes even higher during El Niño and the positive phase of the IOD. The increased Bigeye tuna HR during the southeast monsoon, El Niño and the IOD positive phase can be attributed to the shallower thermocline depth and the enhancement of biological productivity due to development of eddies and strong upwelling in the EIO. The spatial distribution of SSHA indicates that Bigeye tuna catches are abundant in the frontal regions between cold and warm eddies.

SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF LIGHT ABSORPTION COEFFICIENT OF SURFACE WATER

Absorption coefficient measurement can be use d in estimat ing water quality, op t ical characteristic of water column, and marine bio-optical models. The purposes of this research were to determine values and variability of sea surface absorption coefficient in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (NEGOM) based on various seasons. The data were collected in spring, summer, and fall seasons in 1999-2000 with AC-9 instrument. The spatial distribution of absorption coefficient showed that relatively high values were generally found along the run off Missisippi, Mobile, Chochawati, Escambia, Apalachicola, and Suwannee rivers, as well as Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, relatively low values were found in offshore region. This pattern followed the distribution pattern of chlorophyll and CDOM. Based on the local region comparison of spectral average value of absorption coefficient, we found a significant difference (α = 95%) among regions with the highest value in the run off of the Mississippi and Mobile rivers, and the lowest value in the offshore region. Comparison of spectral average value of absorption coefficient among seasons at the three primary wavelengths (blue=440 nm, green=510 nm, and red=676 nm) also showed a significant difference (α = 95%) with the highest value during the summer 1999 (Su-99) and the lowest value during the spring of 2000 (Sp-00). Absorption coefficient values were influenced by oceanographic factors that varied in every season such as wind, surface currents, upwelling, the location and speed of the Loop Current, and the river discharge of fresh water into the NEGOM. Keywords: absorption coefficient, seasons, chlorophyll, CDOM, northeastern Gulf of Mexico

WAVEFORM IDENTIFICATION OF ALTIMETRY SATELLITE DATA OF SHALLOW AND DEEP WATERS IN SOUTHERN JAVA WATERS

ABSTRACT Waveform patterns of satellite altimetry affect the accuracy of sea surface height estimation from the satellite. The waveform patterns found in the coastal waters are generally not in the ideal form (Brown-waveform), resulting inaccurate in sea surface height estimation. The objec-tives of this research were to identify patterns of the waveform and determine their variability. Satellite altimetry Jason-2 SGDR ( Sensor Geophysical Data Record ) type D data located in the southern Java island waters of the year of 2013 were used and downloaded from “NOAAs Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System ” (www.class.ncdc.noaa.gov) . Waveform identification and analyses were conducted along the satel l it e pass within the distance of 0-10 km, 10-50 km, and 50-100 km form the coastline. Results showed that the highest number of non-Brown-waveform was found within 0-10 km of the coastline (69%). Meanwhile, within the distance of 10-50 km and 50-100 km from the coastline, the number of non-Brown waveform was 5% and 3%, respectively. Brown waveform patterns could be found generally starting at 7.58 km from the coastline . Factors such as land near coastal waters, the depth and shape of the surface waters, aerosols in the atmosphere, building (example: lighthouse or ship) found in coastal areas suspected to be the cause of the noise in waveforms. Keywords: Borwn and non-Brown waveform, sea level height, altimetry satellite, identification

VARIABILITY OF CHLOROPHYLL-a CONCENTRATION OF THE NORTHERN SUMBAWA WATERS BASED ON Sea WiFS SATELLITE DATA

Variability of chlorophyll-a concentrations of the northern Sumbawa waters was investigated based on SeaWiFS satellite data for the period of January 1998-December 2007. Chlorophyll-aconcentration was estimated employing OC4v4 algorithm. Chlorophyll-a concentrations of,SeaWiFS satellite data were obtained from the Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA archieve data. In general, fluctuations of chlorophyll-a concentration of the northern Sumbawa waters had three patterns i.e., the maximum with a range of 0,21-0,74 mg/m3 occurred during the West Season (November-February), the minimum with a range of 0.12-0.15 mg/m3 occurred during Transition Season I (March-April), and relatively high (second peak) with a range of 0.21-0.36 mg/m3 occurred during the mid-East Season until the beginning of Transition Season II (July-September).High chlorophyll-a concentration occurred during the West Season was closely related to the high rainfall, the possibility of vertical water mass mixing,and upwelling process in the northern coastal waters of Sumbawa. Meanwhile, the relatively high (second peak) of chlorophyll-aconcentration occurred in July-September was caused by the movement of water masses from the South of Makassar Strait containing relatively high chlorophyll-a concentrations and relatively low temperatures since upwelling processes occurred at this location in the same period. Keywords:Chlorophyll-a,northern Sumbawa waters, SeaWiFS, OC4v4, upwelling