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USGS · 70161983

Temporal dynamics and ecological significance of salinity stratification in an estuary (south San-Francisco Bay, USA)

James E. Cloern
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Abstract

South San Francisco Bay (USA) has periodic variations in salinity stratification that coïncide with neap-spring tidal variations during the winter "wet" season, but it remains well-mixed during summer and fall. The degree of salinity stratification, and timing of stratification events, can be predicted from a simple empirical function of river discharge and tidal current speed. During periods of prolonged salinity stratification, phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity are high, phytoplankton patchiness increases, turbidity and nutrient (N) concentrations decline in the surface layer, and residual currents accelerate.

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Oceanologica ActaArticle
90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 37.411618795843026° to 37.82171764783966° latitude; -122.4151611328125° to -121.91940307617188° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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James E. Cloern. 1984. Temporal dynamics and ecological significance of salinity stratification in an estuary (south San-Francisco Bay, USA). https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70161983

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