FONDAP-HUMBOLDT Programme

FONDAP-HUMBOLDT Program - Circulation and Physical-Biological Interactions in the Humboldt Current System and their Impact upon Regional Biogeochemical Cycling 1997-2000 The FONDAP-Humboldt program has had a major input into developing oceanographic research in the East Boundary Humboldt Current, in both inshore and offshore waters. From 18-38 degrees south , moored oceanographic buoys allow continuous collection of time series data. This information will be used to give insights into local variability forced by remote large-scale events, originated at the equator, such as El Nino and La Nina events and the influence of coastal trapped waves. Two large-scale cruises were performed in the rich fishery system off Concepcion (38 degrees S) and another was carried out off northern Chile (20 degrees S): MircI October 1998 off Central-south Chile MircII July 1999 off Central-south Chile MinOx March 2000 off northern Chile MircI and MircII dealt with upwelling filaments off Concepcion (36 degrees S) and included complete physical-chemistry measurements of the water column, primary production, respiration, zooplankton and fish larvae sampling. MinOx was a cruise devoted to study the physics/chemistry of the oxygen minimum zone and its associated biological components. Some process studies were carried out onboard. Special attention has been given to latitudinal gradients, coupled to growth and development responses. The population dynamics of the endemic Zoo plankton species of the Humboldt Current, the copepod Calanus Chilensis and the small krill Euphausia mucronata have also been studied. Information supplied by Dr. Ruben Escribano, Chile GLOBEC National Representative.