Seasonal variability of vertical patterns in chlorophyll-a fluorescence in the coastal waters off Kimbiji, Tanzania
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Date
2021-09-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science
Abstract
A study on the vertical pattern of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) fluorescence was undertaken in the Mafia Channel off
Kimbiji, Tanzania. Data was collected during the Southeast Monsoon (SEM) and Northeast Monsoon (NEM) seasons.
There was higher Chl-a concentration of 0.1 to 1.1 mgm-3 in the surface layer off Kimbiji to about 50 m depth due
to the presence of mixed layer depth (MLD) which allowed water mixing in the layer. A deep Chl-a maximum was
recorded at around 40 m depth during the NEM and between 40 and 70 m in the SEM. Surface water between lon gitude 39.9°E and 40.2°E had low Chl-a from the surface to about 50 m depth due to poor nutrient input. The NEM
had an insignificantly higher Chl-a value than the SEM (p > 0.05) which differed from other studies in which Chl-a
was higher during the SEM than the NEM, than, the Chl-a concentration was higher at the surface during the SEM
than during the NEM. Satellite data showed higher Chl-a in the SEM than NEM, localized along the Mafia Channel.
During the SEM season the wind pushes higher Chl-a water from the Mafia Channel towards the north and leads to
a higher concentration at Kimbiji
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Keywords
Chlorophyll-a, CTD, Kimbiji, Mafia Channel, Monsoon season