SATELLITE-MEASURED SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHLOROPHYLL-A VARIABILITY IN THE GULF OF TOMINI, SULAWESI
Abstract: Chlorophyll-a
concentration, an index of phytoplankton biomass, is an important parameter for
fisheries resources and marine aquaculture development. Spatial and temporal
variability of surface cholophyll-a (chl-a) concentration and water condition
in the Gulf of Tomini were investigated using monthly climatologies the
Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view sensor (SeaWiFS), sea surface temperature (SST),
and wind data from January 2000 to December 2007. The results showed seasonal
variation of chla and SST in the Gulf of Tomini. High chl-a concentrations
located in the eastern part of the gulf were observed during the southeast
monsoon in August. During the northwest monsoon, chl-a concentrations were
relatively low (<0.2 mg m-3) and distributed uniformly throughout most of
the region. Chl-a concentrations peaked in August at every year, and chl-a
concentrations were observed low in November at every year from 2000 to 2007.
SSTs were relatively high (> 28oC) during the northwest monsoon, but low
during the southeast monsoon. High wind speed was coincided with high chl-a
concentrations. Local forcing such as sea surface heating and wind condition
are the mechanisms that controlled the spatial and temporal variations of
chlorophyll concentrations.
Keywords: chlorophyll-a;
SeaWiFS; sea surface temperature; wind; Gulf of Tomini; Sulawesi
Author: I Nyoman Radiarta
Journal Code: jpperikanangg090034
