Coastal, Ocean, and Coastal, Ocean, and Land Linkages in North Land Linkages in North American Carbon CycleAmerican Carbon Cycle

Dr. Arturo Muhlia MeloDr. Arturo Muhlia Melo

amuhlia04@cibnor.mxamuhlia04@cibnor.mx

JNACP-2007JNACP-2007

OutlineOutline

• General frame workGeneral frame work• General consensusGeneral consensus• Sources of variabilitySources of variability• Impacts in biological processesImpacts in biological processes• Basic research in MexicoBasic research in Mexico• Collaborative projectsCollaborative projects• Suggested questions of carbon cycleSuggested questions of carbon cycle

Long term variation of Long term variation of temperaturetemperature

There is consensus in science that gas There is consensus in science that gas emissions are increased by emissions are increased by anthropogenic activitiesanthropogenic activities

(CO2, CH4 y CO)(CO2, CH4 y CO)

• The Academy of science of the United The Academy of science of the United states concluded:states concluded:

• The most vulnerable part of models to The most vulnerable part of models to predict Global Change are the predict Global Change are the uncertaintiesuncertainties related to the magnitude related to the magnitude and temporal variability and geographic and temporal variability and geographic patterns of carbon sources and reservoirs patterns of carbon sources and reservoirs in coastal regions of the world.in coastal regions of the world.

North America coastal North America coastal zonezone

Sources and sinks carbon Sources and sinks carbon cyclecycle

simplistic diagramsimplistic diagram

Carbon fluxes in the Carbon fluxes in the oceanocean

Biological processesBiological processes

Sources of variabilitySources of variability

• Coastal environments interact Coastal environments interact directly to terrestrial air masses.directly to terrestrial air masses.

• Due to the sensibility of wind Due to the sensibility of wind patterns and river water flow and patterns and river water flow and anthropogenic impacts due to the anthropogenic impacts due to the loads of nutrients and carbon, loads of nutrients and carbon, coastal regions are highly vulnerable coastal regions are highly vulnerable to Global Change variability.to Global Change variability.

Sources of variabilitySources of variability

• Large scale phenomena Large scale phenomena El NiñoEl Niño and and La NiñaLa Niña are more intense and more frequent. This are more intense and more frequent. This impact to regional and local coastal zones impact to regional and local coastal zones ecosystems.ecosystems.

• Tele connections and local processes have Tele connections and local processes have been observed in specific regions. In been observed in specific regions. In particular in the Pacific and Atlantic coast of particular in the Pacific and Atlantic coast of North America.North America.

• Regional events Regional events HurricanesHurricanes and local and local processes processes like Redlike Red tides are more often tides are more often observed in coastal areas.observed in coastal areas.

The ENSO impacts in different ways the Pacific coasts of

America.

Hurricane WilmaHurricane Wilma

Local eventsLocal eventsRed Tides Pacific coast of Central and Red Tides Pacific coast of Central and

North America have been affected more North America have been affected more often with harmful Algaeoften with harmful Algae

Tele connectionsTele connections Tuna fishery: El Niño event Tuna fishery: El Niño event

increases recruitment of Yellowfin increases recruitment of Yellowfin tuna fishery in the west coast of tuna fishery in the west coast of

MexicoMexico• Fish. Bull. 104:197–203 (2006). Fish. Bull. 104:197–203 (2006). • Variation in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus Variation in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus

albacares) catches related to El Niño-albacares) catches related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation events at the entrance Southern Oscillation events at the entrance to the Gulf of California.to the Gulf of California.

A northward displacement of YFT seems to A northward displacement of YFT seems to occur at the entrance of the Gulf of occur at the entrance of the Gulf of California twelve to fourteen months after California twelve to fourteen months after El Niño events.El Niño events.

Basic researchBasic research

• In MexicoIn Mexico• Short term data collection for Carbon Cycle Short term data collection for Carbon Cycle

in coastal and ocean areas. Basically in coastal and ocean areas. Basically primary productivity in coastal zones, fewer primary productivity in coastal zones, fewer in deep ocean waters, less studies in pelagic in deep ocean waters, less studies in pelagic zone and fewer in the benthic zone.zone and fewer in the benthic zone.

• Oceanographic studiesOceanographic studies : UMBRALES; : UMBRALES; IMECOCAL; PROCOMEX; IMECOCAL; PROCOMEX; PEGoT PEGoT

• FLUCAR (IMECOCAL, CO2 in Mexican FLUCAR (IMECOCAL, CO2 in Mexican coasts of the Pacifc)coasts of the Pacifc)

• Coastal zone studies: Local researchCoastal zone studies: Local research

FLUCAR FLUCAR An example of integrative An example of integrative

studiesstudies

Mexican institutions and Mexican institutions and MBARI, SIO are working MBARI, SIO are working

toghethertoghether

Objectives of this projectObjectives of this project• To estimate using historical satellite data and in To estimate using historical satellite data and in

situ observations of carbon fluxes variability of situ observations of carbon fluxes variability of the Mexican seas. the Mexican seas.

• To establish a net work monitoring stations To establish a net work monitoring stations along the west coast of Mexico. This will along the west coast of Mexico. This will generate time series of environmental variables.generate time series of environmental variables.

• To generate data basis to improve prediction To generate data basis to improve prediction models.models.

• The roll of Green Gases in coastal waters of The roll of Green Gases in coastal waters of México.México.

• National Inventories of Green Gases.National Inventories of Green Gases.• Back ground information relevant to Global Back ground information relevant to Global

Chance convention and Kyoto protocol.Chance convention and Kyoto protocol.

Coastal zone of the three Coastal zone of the three countriescountries

• There is a new initiative organized in There is a new initiative organized in November 2006 in Seattle, Wa. November 2006 in Seattle, Wa. NOAA (Cris Sabine, Dick Feely), NOAA (Cris Sabine, Dick Feely), Universities of Canada and MexicoUniversities of Canada and Mexico

• Sampling will start this year. (every Sampling will start this year. (every two yrs) from Vancouver, Can to two yrs) from Vancouver, Can to Punta Eugenia BC Mexico. The Punta Eugenia BC Mexico. The common fact is the California common fact is the California CurrentCurrent

La Paz, Baja California La Paz, Baja California CIBNOR-SDSU CIBNOR-SDSU

example of collaborationexample of collaboration• Carbon flux tower (Carbon flux tower (PMC Mega PMC Mega

projectproject))• Airplane researchAirplane research• Marine station as part of the Marine station as part of the

FLUCAR projectFLUCAR project

Eddy tower at CIBNOREddy tower at CIBNOR

Mexflux (Mega project)Mexflux (Mega project)

Aircraft research in Aircraft research in coastal zonecoastal zone

Aircraft transectAircraft transect

COCO22 Study on San Quintín Study on San Quintín Bay, Baja California Bay, Baja California

Fig.1 Hernandez-Ayon J.M

Sources and sinks of CO2Sources and sinks of CO2Distribución superficial de las variables del sistema del CO2

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Distribución superficial de las variables del sistema del CO2

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UMBRALES-ProjectHernandez-Ayon J.M

Suggested questions for the Suggested questions for the three countriesthree countries

• ¿What are the estimates of sources and sinks ¿What are the estimates of sources and sinks at the aquatic ecosystems in North America?at the aquatic ecosystems in North America?

• ¿What is the temporal and spatial variation of ¿What is the temporal and spatial variation of carbon fluxes in this region?carbon fluxes in this region?

• ¿What are the estimates of the impact of ¿What are the estimates of the impact of anthropogenic activities related to sources and anthropogenic activities related to sources and sinks of C in ocean, coastal and land sinks of C in ocean, coastal and land ecosystems?ecosystems?

• Identify C flux interactions between aquatic Identify C flux interactions between aquatic and terrestrial and aquatic and atmosphere and terrestrial and aquatic and atmosphere areas.areas.

ThanksThanks