Upwelling II Peru |
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Medas, Devine, and Gunter | ![]() ![]() |
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Question | Answer | |
What is upwelling and how does it effect productivity? | Upwelling is when nutrient rich water rises to the surface. Upwelling occurs off to the coast of Peru because the prevailing winds blow along the shore . As the wind blows it pushes the surface water at a right angle offshore causing nutrient rich bottom water to flow to the surface. This effects productivity because the nutrients are used by the phytoplankton for photosynthesis. When the phytoplankton bloom the species feed on them also multiply effecting the whole ecosystem, making the fish flourish. | |
Describe in simple terms and through the use of pictures, the cause of upwelling on the Western coast of Peru. | Upwelling is caused because atmospheric winds generate horizontal currents that move around the ocean's surface. Due to the frictional issues that lie between ocean layers, surface water is transported at a 90 degree angle to the left of the winds in the southern hemisphere, 90 degrees to the right of the winds in the northern hemisphere. This shows how winds blowing north along the coastline of Peru push surface water west away from the shore. | ![]() ![]()
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What are the economically important species found here? | Tuna, and Anchovies are the 2 best known and most economically important species fished in this area. Both of the species support large fishing industries. There are also a large number of game species found in this area including pompano, marlin and drum. | ![]() ![]() |
Who fishes this area and who owns and regulates the fishing industry?. | This area is another internationally important fishery. The US and Japanese Tuna fishing fleets are very dependent on this area. Peru has the right to regulate fishing in this area by virtue of the UN's 200 mile fishing limit. | |
What is El Niņo. | El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical pacific having important consequences for weather around the globe. El Nino disrupts the normal wind patterns and thus stops Upwelling. | |
Explain how El Niņo weather events disrupt this fishery. | An increase in ocean temperature changes normal wind and current patterns. This stops the flow of nutrient rich water in the euphotic zone causing a drastic decline in the primary productivity. This decrease in phytoplankton productivity causes a chain reaction all the way up the food chain causing the Trophic pyramid to collapse. | |
How does an El Niņo impact other non-commercial wildlife. | Although El Nino can cause problems for humans it is a disaster for marine life. As many as 90% of the bird population can die off in an el Nino year. | |
References: You should provide references for all of your answers and images. | ||
Page Name | URL | |
Upwelling In
Peru
What is El Nino? Fishing in Peru
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www.2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28gh%29/guides
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/el-nino-story.html http://www.enjoyperu.com/deporte-avent/pesca/
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