Driving processes of seasonal cooling in the northern Gulf of Guinea coastal upwelling
Abstract
The Gabon-Congo upwelling system, located in the southeastern Gulf of Guinea, is a highly productive marine ecosystem influenced by both local and remote physical forcing. This study investigates the seasonal variability of the nitrate budget and biological productivity in this region using a high-resolution (1/36°) coupled physical-biogeochemical simulation with the NEMO-PISCES model. The analysis highlights the relative contributions of physical and biological processes in modulating nitrate concentrations in both the mixed layer and the euphotic zone. Results reveal a semi-annual cycle of nitrate, with two upwelling periods (May–August and December) and two downwelling periods (January–April and October–November). These cycles are primarily driven by the passage of coastal trapped waves (CTWs) forced by equatorial Kelvin waves, inducing vertical thermocline displacements and regulating nitrate availability in the euphotic zone. The nitrate budget analysis shows that the vertical diffusion linked to internal tide and local wind, and vertical advection linked to the CTWs, are the dominant process supplying nitrate to the mixed layer during the main upwelling season. However, near the Congo River mouth (5.5–6° S), the horizontal advection plays a key role, supplying significant amounts of nitrate through the river plume. In the lower euphotic layer, the vertical mixing contributes to the nitrate loss during the upwelling but becomes a source of nitrate during the downwelling periods. The seasonal cycle of the chlorophyll a (CHLa) concentration follows that of nitrate, confirming that the primary production in this region is mainly driven by nitrate availability. The study also highlights the role of the Angola Current in transporting low-nitrate waters from the Equatorial Undercurrent, which influences the nitrate and CHLa balance in the Gabon-Congo upwelling system. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms governing nutrient dynamics and biological productivity in the Gabon-Congo upwelling system. Understanding these processes is crucial for assessing the impact of climate variability on the regional marine ecosystems and fisheries.
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BibTeX
@article{djorwe2026driving,
title = {{Driving processes of seasonal cooling in the northern Gulf of Guinea coastal upwelling}},
author = {Enock Djorwe and Gaël Alory and Casimir Da-Allada and Sandrine Djakoure and Serena Illig},
journal = {Regional Studies in Marine Science},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.rsma.2026.105196},
url = {https://ird.hal.science/ird-05849777v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Driving processes of seasonal cooling in the northern Gulf of Guinea coastal upwelling
AU - Enock Djorwe
AU - Gaël Alory
AU - Casimir Da-Allada
AU - Sandrine Djakoure
AU - Serena Illig
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - Regional Studies in Marine Science
DO - 10.1016/j.rsma.2026.105196
UR - https://ird.hal.science/ird-05849777v1
AB - The Gabon-Congo upwelling system, located in the southeastern Gulf of Guinea, is a highly productive marine ecosystem influenced by both local and remote physical forcing. This study investigates the seasonal variability of the nitrate budget and biological productivity in this region using a high-resolution (1/36°) coupled physical-biogeochemical simulation with the NEMO-PISCES model. The analysis highlights the relative contributions of physical and biological processes in modulating nitrate concentrations in both the mixed layer and the euphotic zone. Results reveal a semi-annual cycle of nitrate, with two upwelling periods (May–August and December) and two downwelling periods (January–April and October–November). These cycles are primarily driven by the passage of coastal trapped waves (CTWs) forced by equatorial Kelvin waves, inducing vertical thermocline displacements and regulating nitrate availability in the euphotic zone. The nitrate budget analysis shows that the vertical diffusion linked to internal tide and local wind, and vertical advection linked to the CTWs, are the dominant process supplying nitrate to the mixed layer during the main upwelling season. However, near the Congo River mouth (5.5–6° S), the horizontal advection plays a key role, supplying significant amounts of nitrate through the river plume. In the lower euphotic layer, the vertical mixing contributes to the nitrate loss during the upwelling but becomes a source of nitrate during the downwelling periods. The seasonal cycle of the chlorophyll a (CHLa) concentration follows that of nitrate, confirming that the primary production in this region is mainly driven by nitrate availability. The study also highlights the role of the Angola Current in transporting low-nitrate waters from the Equatorial Undercurrent, which influences the nitrate and CHLa balance in the Gabon-Congo upwelling system. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms governing nutrient dynamics and biological productivity in the Gabon-Congo upwelling system. Understanding these processes is crucial for assessing the impact of climate variability on the regional marine ecosystems and fisheries.
SN - 2352-4855
ER -