Hydrochemical Features of Primary Production within the Peruvian and Canary Upwelling Areas

Abstract

General features of water mass dynamics, as well as the processes responsible for higher biological productivity, appear to be similar for the geographically distinct areas of the Peruvian and Canary upwelling ecosystems. Variations in productivity of both ecosystems are driven by regional specifics of the upward flow, including the hydrochemical parameters of the upwelled waters. Northern sub-division of the Peruvian upwelling and southern sub-division of the Canary upwelling ecosystems are supplied by waters of the subsurface poleward flows over slope, for the rest it is water of Peruvian Coastal and Canary currents respectively. Biological productivity of these ecosystems was estimated indirectly using the hydrochemical data, and these results correspond well with direct observational data.