 |
|
Home -- ENSO Cycle -- ENSO Effects -- Missions -- Data -- Tools -- Site Map |
|
Introduction -- Caribbean Corals -- Local Links -- Web Links |
|
||||
Caribbean Corals and North African Dust
Introduction
The impact of an extreme event in the ENSO Cycle does not have to be direct and immediate. It may be indirect, involving a pathway with several steps.
|
Red Tide in Florida Waters (Chlorophyll) |
African Dust |
The degradation of Caribbean marine species appears to be related to major El Niño events. Land sources of dust plumes in North Africa (Western Sahara and Mauritania) provide more dust to the Atlantic easterly trade winds in major El Niño years (TOMS Aerosol Index data); the dust is still there, but in decreasing amounts during La Niña years. Variations in dust concentrations correlate with rainfall deficits in the Sahel region of North Africa (TOVS rain data) (TRMM TMI rain data). Transported across the Atlantic toward the Caribbean and equatorial regions of South America in the winters, and then north towards Florida and the Southeastern United States during summers, the dust (and hitchhiking, potentially hazardous bacteria and fungi) appears to affect coral and reef-dwelling animals. In Florida waters, Saharan dust brings in a critical nutrient, iron, leading to blooms of toxic algae (SeaWiFS chlorophyll data).
Jump to 'Caribbean Corals and North African Dust' List of Web Sites
Caribbean Corals and North African Dust Web Sites
Disclaimer:
NASA offers these suggested sites
for additional information regarding effects of El Niño and La Niña teleconnection events.
Web access is required to reach these sites.
Link existence and contents are not under the control of the EOSDIS Science Operations Office.
