Hindcasting the 2017 dispersal of Sargassum algae in the Tropical North Atlantic

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:158

Article

Berline, Leo¹  Ody, Anouck¹  Jouanno, Julien²  Chevalier, Cristele¹  Andre, Jean-Michel¹  Thibaut, Thierry¹  Menard, Frederic¹ 

[1] Aix Marseille Univ, Univ Toulon, CNRS, IRD,MIO,UM 110, F-13288 Marseille, France

[2] Univ Toulouse, UPS, CNES, CNRS,IRD,LEGOS, Toulouse, France

关键词: Lagrangian transport;    Forecast;    Aggregation;    Distribution;    Annual cycle;    MODIS;    AFAI;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111431

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Since 2011, huge amounts of Sargassum algae are detected in the equatorial Atlantic, causing large strandings events on the coasts of the West Indies, Brazil and West Africa. The distribution of this stock shows strong annual and interannual variability, whose drivers are not settled yet. Here we use satellite Sargassum observations from MODIS and currents from an ocean reanalysis to simulate the passive transport of algae in 2017. Wind effect was necessary to fit the observed distribution. Simulations reasonably reproduce the satellite monthly distribution for up to seven months, confirming the prominent role of transport in the distribution cycle. Annual cycle appears as a zonal exchange between eastern (EAR) and western accumulation regions (WAR). EAR is well explained by advection alone, with sharp meridional distribution controlled by converging currents below the inter-tropical Convergence Zone. Instead, WAR is not explained by advection alone, suggesting local growth.

【 授权许可】

Free