Evidence of physical-biological mismatch in the Guajira upwelling system, Colombian Caribbean

The horizontal and vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, magnitude of winds and Chl-a concentration were described, during the upwelling season in the Guajira, Colombian Caribbean, through hydrographic in situ and satellite information, showing variability in spatial distribution of Chl-a during the season with the maximum trade winds in the region. In both, the winds were mainly N to NE and favorable to coastal upwelling, although with a higher intensity during February of 2006. The changes in sea surface temperature and salinity allowed for the determination of the existence of three main upwelling nuclei: the coastal area between the Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas (CV-PG), the zone between Puerto Bolivar and the Cabo de la Vela (PB-CV) and the zone between Santa Marta and the Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (SM-PNNT). At the end of the upwelling season (February 2006), greater winds increase the offshore advection and the depth of the mixed layer, generating a mismatch between the upwelling and the planktonic biomass in the region.