Investigation of the nearshore, episodic poleward current in the southern Benguela : a numerical modelling approach

Fisheries are of great economic importance on the South African West Coast (the Southern Benguela). The St Helena Bay region is a key nursery habitat for these fisheries because of its retention, upwelling and stratified water column characteristics. However, these characteristics also result in other outcomes such as hypoxia and harmful algal blooms (HAB's) which impact on the habitat suitability character of the system. A nearshore, episodic poleward current has been observed in this region, and it is believed that this current plays an important role in the incidence of HABs as well as hypoxia events. The drivers and dynamics of this nearshore, episodic poleward current have not been clearly understood, nor thoroughly investigated, due to the complexity of the scales and processes. However, the importance of this current in transporting harmful algae from the north into St Helena Bay and its role in habitat hypoxia has emphasized the need to understand its dynamics.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Oceanography

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Viljoen, Anél

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Shillington, Frank
• Brundrit, Geoff

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6448

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6448