Grace Su ( license@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov) (301) 286-9494
Applicant's Name: Javier Ruiz Segura Institution: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DEL MAR. University of Cadiz (UCA) Adress: Dep. Biologia - Facultad de Ciencias del Mar Poligono Rio San Pedro s/n 11510 - Puerto Real - Cadiz (SPAIN) Telephone: 956016028 Fax Number: 956016019 E-mail Address: javier.ruiz@uca.es Type of Temporary Agreement requested: An agreement that temporarily enables a non-real time SeaWiFS HRPT station to decrypt real-time data and release it to the Authorized Users list. Time period of temporary agreement: Dates (month/day/year): 10/29/2003 - 12/09/2003 SeaWiFS HRPT Station to provide data: HMAS List of Authorized Users to access real-time data. 1. Javier Ruiz Project Title: Mixing Processes in Gibraltar Strait And Its Influence on Biological Processes in The Area Principal Investigator(s): Carlos Garcia Jimenez Funding Agency(s): Facultad de Ciencias del Mar (UCA) Description of the Research Project and Justification for Real-time SeaWiFS Data: The project will try to characterize the mixing processes in Gibraltar Strait and its effects on biological productivity in both, the channel area and the adjacent areas within Alboran Sea. The project will focus on the variability of internal waves generation processes occurring in Camarinal Sill at a fortnightly scale, as a key mechanism for mixing, either as internal bore release during higher amplitude tides or due to the existence of arrested waves in neap tides or during the transition from neap to spring phases. These mixing episodes represent a rich deep water intrusion on the eastward flowing surface layers. This fact, together with the shallower position of the Atlantic-Mediterranean Interface (AMI)toward east, enhances the magnitude of phytoplankton blooms in the eastern sector. The study of mixing processes will allow us to detail better the magnitude of the water masses, gases and nutrient exchanges through the AMI. Another aspect to study will be the propagation to the Mediterranean of internal waves and the transport of surface water so enriched and, finally, the resulting biological and chemical patterns in the eastern sector, hypothetically derived from diverse mixing processes produced in the different tidal cycles. As objectives, we will try to understand the mechanism producing the internal ondulatory processes and the associated mixing phenomena on the sill, aiming to develop future suitable predictive models. Furthermore, we will try to describe the effects of these mixing processes on nutrients and seston patterns in both Gibraltar and Western Alboran Sea, identifying sources for space and time variability. The synthesis will include mixing intensity estimations as well as its consequences on production and the typical response patterns that could be related to tidal cycles or to weather or climatic variability in the area. Among the measurements to be performed as a manifestation of surface waters modification by mixing processes will be abundance of phytoplankton and primary productivity. Measurements of primary production will be undertaken by 14C incubations on board "R/V Hesperides" in relatively few points compared to total number of stations. In order to achieve a good final map of primary production a critical point is the choice of these few representative stations and real time images of SeaWiFS surface chlorophyll would be very valuable. The Research Ship "Hesperides" is able to receive and process these HRPT data by means of a Terascan TS300 system. The crew and technicians of the Hesperides already know our proposal and they agree in receiving and proportionate the images to the scientific team during the cruise that will be carried out during November 2003.