Seasonal and interannual variability of the oxygen minimum zone in the Gulf of California entrance: Insights from high-resolution coupled physical-biogeochemical modelling
Abstract
The oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the Gulf of California entrance (GCE) is a crucial feature of the northeastern tropical Pacific, significantly influencing regional biogeochemical cycles and marine ecosystems. This study investigates the seasonal and interannual variability of the OMZ upper boundaries using a high-resolution physical-biogeochemical coupled model. The model results are evaluated against satellite observations, Argo profiles, and in situ data, demonstrating its capability to capture key dynamical processes, including mesoscale eddies, poleward undercurrents, and coastal-trapped waves (CTWs). The high-resolution CROCO-PISCES model reveals two alternating periods of shoaling and deepening of the OMZ upper boundary in the Gulf of California Entrance, modulated by seasonal mesoscale dynamics and coastal-trapped wave (CTW) propagation. This study provides novel insights into the interannual influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on OMZ dynamics, with El Niño driving significant deepening and contraction of the OMZ, and La Niña promoting shoaling and expansion. These variations are linked to changes in mesoscale dynamics, particularly the modulation of anticyclonic circulation at the Gulf’s entrance by equatorially forced CTWs associated with ENSO. The study highlights the complex interplay between local and remote oceanographic processes in determining the OMZ variability in the GCE. This research provides insights into the mechanisms driving OMZ dynamics in the Gulf of California and underscores the need for integrated observational and modeling approaches to predict the response of OMZs to ongoing climate variability.
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BibTeX
@article{herrerabecerril2026seasonal,
title = {{Seasonal and interannual variability of the oxygen minimum zone in the Gulf of California entrance: Insights from high-resolution coupled physical-biogeochemical modelling}},
author = {Carlos Alberto Herrera-Becerril and François Colas and Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza and José Martín Hernández-Ayón and Vincent Echevin and José Gilberto Cardoso-Mohedano and Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández},
journal = {Regional Studies in Marine Science},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104399},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05383153v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Seasonal and interannual variability of the oxygen minimum zone in the Gulf of California entrance: Insights from high-resolution coupled physical-biogeochemical modelling
AU - Carlos Alberto Herrera-Becerril
AU - François Colas
AU - Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza
AU - José Martín Hernández-Ayón
AU - Vincent Echevin
AU - José Gilberto Cardoso-Mohedano
AU - Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/04
JO - Regional Studies in Marine Science
DO - 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104399
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05383153v1
AB - The oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the Gulf of California entrance (GCE) is a crucial feature of the northeastern tropical Pacific, significantly influencing regional biogeochemical cycles and marine ecosystems. This study investigates the seasonal and interannual variability of the OMZ upper boundaries using a high-resolution physical-biogeochemical coupled model. The model results are evaluated against satellite observations, Argo profiles, and in situ data, demonstrating its capability to capture key dynamical processes, including mesoscale eddies, poleward undercurrents, and coastal-trapped waves (CTWs). The high-resolution CROCO-PISCES model reveals two alternating periods of shoaling and deepening of the OMZ upper boundary in the Gulf of California Entrance, modulated by seasonal mesoscale dynamics and coastal-trapped wave (CTW) propagation. This study provides novel insights into the interannual influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on OMZ dynamics, with El Niño driving significant deepening and contraction of the OMZ, and La Niña promoting shoaling and expansion. These variations are linked to changes in mesoscale dynamics, particularly the modulation of anticyclonic circulation at the Gulf’s entrance by equatorially forced CTWs associated with ENSO. The study highlights the complex interplay between local and remote oceanographic processes in determining the OMZ variability in the GCE. This research provides insights into the mechanisms driving OMZ dynamics in the Gulf of California and underscores the need for integrated observational and modeling approaches to predict the response of OMZs to ongoing climate variability.
SN - 2352-4855
ER -