Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022)
Influenced by the Canary Current, the northwest African coast is one of the world's four major upwelling systems. This study is the first to investigate the latitudinal variability of upwelling activity along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, using a 28-year time series of in-situ data (1994–2022) a...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific African |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246822762500300X |
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| author | Chaimaa Jamal Ahmed Makaoui Melissa Chierici Aziz Agouzouk Hasnaa Nait Hammou Adil Chair Mohammed Idrissi Omar Ettahiri Fatima Zohra Bouthir Bouya M'bengue Samia Yousfi Mouna Latifa Bouamrani |
| author_facet | Chaimaa Jamal Ahmed Makaoui Melissa Chierici Aziz Agouzouk Hasnaa Nait Hammou Adil Chair Mohammed Idrissi Omar Ettahiri Fatima Zohra Bouthir Bouya M'bengue Samia Yousfi Mouna Latifa Bouamrani |
| author_sort | Chaimaa Jamal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Influenced by the Canary Current, the northwest African coast is one of the world's four major upwelling systems. This study is the first to investigate the latitudinal variability of upwelling activity along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, using a 28-year time series of in-situ data (1994–2022) analyzed on a seasonal scale. Five distinct zones were identified, each with specific oceanographic conditions. The Cape Cantin (32°30 N) and Cape Draa (28°30 N) regions show strong upwelling seasonality, with a peak in summer followed by relaxation in autumn. The North Atlantic Central Waters (NACW) strongly influences these areas. The Cape Boujdour (25°30 N) region exhibits the most active upwelling center, with near-permanent activity. Dakhla (23°30 N) is a water retention area influenced by the Cape Boujdour filament in autumn, while the Cape Blanc region (21°N) exhibits permanent upwelling activity throughout the year, acting as a frontal zone influenced by saltier NACW and South Atlantic Central Waters (SACW), which is less saline, phosphate-rich, and oxygen-depleted. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the latitudinal and seasonal variability of upwelling. Cold, less saline, and phosphate-rich waters were more pronounced in summer across all zones. A relaxation of upwelling was observed in autumn, while the winter season showed an absence of upwelling, particularly in the northern zones (32°30N–28°30 N). Additionally, this study revealed a significant warming of surface waters in autumn 2015, and another warming event after 2019, coinciding with the Atlantic Niño phenomenon. These findings provide a valuable reference for understanding upwelling activity trends in this region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b7b0de4adcf94246bcf3f60b4e2d3d17 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2468-2276 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific African |
| spelling | doaj-art-b7b0de4adcf94246bcf3f60b4e2d3d172025-07-02T04:50:32ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762025-09-0129e02831Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022)Chaimaa Jamal0Ahmed Makaoui1Melissa Chierici2Aziz Agouzouk3Hasnaa Nait Hammou4Adil Chair5Mohammed Idrissi6Omar Ettahiri7Fatima Zohra Bouthir8Bouya M'bengue9Samia Yousfi10Mouna Latifa Bouamrani11Laboratory of Analytical and Molecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Chemistry Department, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 7995, Morocco; National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, Morocco; Corresponding authors.National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, MoroccoInstitute of Marine Research (IMR), Fram Centre Hjalmar Johansens gate 14, Tromsø 9007, Norway; Corresponding authors.National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, MoroccoNational Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, Morocco; Marine Geosciences and Soil Science Laboratory (URAC-45), Faculty of Sciences, Earth Sciences Department, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, MoroccoNational Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, Morocco; Marine Geosciences and Soil Science Laboratory (URAC-45), Faculty of Sciences, Earth Sciences Department, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, MoroccoNational Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, MoroccoNational Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, MoroccoNational Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), 2 Bd Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca 20250, MoroccoMauritanian Institute of Oceanographic Research and Fisheries (IMROP), Nouadhibou, MauritaniaLaboratory of Analytical and Molecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Chemistry Department, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 7995, MoroccoLaboratory of Analytical and Molecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Chemistry Department, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 7995, MoroccoInfluenced by the Canary Current, the northwest African coast is one of the world's four major upwelling systems. This study is the first to investigate the latitudinal variability of upwelling activity along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, using a 28-year time series of in-situ data (1994–2022) analyzed on a seasonal scale. Five distinct zones were identified, each with specific oceanographic conditions. The Cape Cantin (32°30 N) and Cape Draa (28°30 N) regions show strong upwelling seasonality, with a peak in summer followed by relaxation in autumn. The North Atlantic Central Waters (NACW) strongly influences these areas. The Cape Boujdour (25°30 N) region exhibits the most active upwelling center, with near-permanent activity. Dakhla (23°30 N) is a water retention area influenced by the Cape Boujdour filament in autumn, while the Cape Blanc region (21°N) exhibits permanent upwelling activity throughout the year, acting as a frontal zone influenced by saltier NACW and South Atlantic Central Waters (SACW), which is less saline, phosphate-rich, and oxygen-depleted. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the latitudinal and seasonal variability of upwelling. Cold, less saline, and phosphate-rich waters were more pronounced in summer across all zones. A relaxation of upwelling was observed in autumn, while the winter season showed an absence of upwelling, particularly in the northern zones (32°30N–28°30 N). Additionally, this study revealed a significant warming of surface waters in autumn 2015, and another warming event after 2019, coinciding with the Atlantic Niño phenomenon. These findings provide a valuable reference for understanding upwelling activity trends in this region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246822762500300XNorthwest AfricaUpwellingSpatiotemporal variabilityInterannual variabilityWater massesOMZ |
| spellingShingle | Chaimaa Jamal Ahmed Makaoui Melissa Chierici Aziz Agouzouk Hasnaa Nait Hammou Adil Chair Mohammed Idrissi Omar Ettahiri Fatima Zohra Bouthir Bouya M'bengue Samia Yousfi Mouna Latifa Bouamrani Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022) Scientific African Northwest Africa Upwelling Spatiotemporal variability Interannual variability Water masses OMZ |
| title | Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022) |
| title_full | Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022) |
| title_fullStr | Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022) |
| title_short | Spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in Northwest Africa (1994–2022) |
| title_sort | spatial and temporal variability of coastal upwelling activity in northwest africa 1994 2022 |
| topic | Northwest Africa Upwelling Spatiotemporal variability Interannual variability Water masses OMZ |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246822762500300X |
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