Improving the analysis of biogeochemical patterns associated with internal waves in the strait of Gibraltar using remote sensing images. (1st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Navarro, Gabriel; Vicent, Jorge; Caballero, Isabel; Gómez-Enri, Jesús; Morris, Edward P.; Sabater, Neus; Macías, Diego; Bolado-Penagos, Marina; Gomiz, Juan Jesús; Bruno, Miguel; Caldeira, Rui; Vázquez, Águeda
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 204(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2018-05-01
• Subjects: High amplitude internal waves -- Strait of Gibraltar -- Algeciras bay -- Sentinel-2 -- HICO; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2018.02.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: High Amplitude Internal Waves (HAIWs) are physical processes observed in the Strait of Gibraltar (the narrow channel between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea). These internal waves are generated over the Camarinal Sill (western side of the strait) during the tidal outflow (toward the Atlantic Ocean) when critical hydraulic conditions are established. HAIWs remain over the sill for up to 4 h until the outflow slackens, being then released (mostly) towards the Mediterranean Sea. These have been previously observed using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which captures variations in surface water roughness. However, in this work we use high resolution optical remote sensing, with the aim of examining the influence of HAIWs on biogeochemical processes. We used hyperspectral images from the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) and high spatial resolution (10 m) images from the MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) onboard the Sentinel-2A satellite. This work represents the first attempt to examine the relation between internal wave generation and the water constituents of the Camarinal Sill using hyperspectral and high spatial resolution remote sensing images. This enhanced spatial and spectral resolution revealed the detailed biogeochemical patterns associated with the internal waves and suggests local enhancements of productivity associated with internal waves trains. Highlights: Evaluation of internal waves in Strait of Gibraltar using optical remote sensing. Enhanced chlorophyll associated with internal waves captured by HICO imagery. High-res Sentinel-2 images show internal wave propagation in Algeciras Bay. We demonstrate the potential of the Copernicus programme to study coastal processes.