Physical and Biogeochemical Phenology of Coastal Upwelling in the California Current System

In the California Current System (CCS), changes in the phenology (i.e., seasonal timing) of coastal upwelling alter the functioning of this productive marine ecosystem. Recently developed coastal upwelling indices that account for upwelling strength and nutrient flux to the surface provide a more complete understanding of bottom-up forcing in the region. Using these indices, we describe CCS upwelling phenological variability in vertical transport and nutrient flux. Physical and biogeochemical spring transitions generally co-occur in winter or spring, followed by increased upwelling and nutrient flux. In the latter half of the year, upwelling continues but nutrient flux wanes as declining source nutrient concentrations limit the biological efficacy of coastal upwelling. Earlier spring transitions and higher season-integrated upwelling intensity occur during strong La Nina events at all latitudes, driven largely by stronger alongshore wind stress. Understanding phenological changes in coastal upwelling is critical, as they could have significant ecosystem consequences. In the California Current System (CCS), coastal upwelling carries nutrient-rich waters to the surface, supporting primary production and driving the coastal ecosystem. This upwelling varies on a seasonal and interannual basis, as reflected in recently developed indices that account for the amount of water upwelled to the surface as well as the amount of nutrients carried in that water. Generally upwelling and nutrient transport are high in the first half of the year. Upwelling persists into the second half of the year, but nutrient transport decreases as the deep-water sources of these nutrients are depleted. Upwelling in the CCS is also affected by the El Nino Southern Oscillation. During La Nina conditions, strong trade winds enhance upwelling and nutrient transport on the California coast. This paper presents regional, seasonal and interannual patterns of upwelling and nutrient delivery in the CCS, which are important drivers of change to this coastal ecosystem. We define new upwelling phenology indices for the California Current System that include nutrient transport We identify spatial, seasonal, and interannual patterns of upwelling and nutrient delivery We relate the physical mechanisms of coastal upwelling with its biological efficacy