Physical and biological processes driving seasonal variability of Nitrate budget and biological productivity in the Congolese upwelling system

Abstract. The Congolese upwelling system, located in the southeastern Gulf of Guinea, is a highly productive marine ecosystem influenced by both local and remote physical forcing. This study investigates the seasonal variability of the nitrate budget and biological productivity in this region using a high-resolution (1/36°) coupled physical-biogeochemical simulation with the NEMO-PISCES model. The analysis highlights the relative contributions of physical and biological processes in modulating nitrate concentrations in both the mixed layer and the euphotic zone.

Results reveal a semi-annual cycle of nitrate, with two upwelling periods (May–August and December) and two downwelling periods (January–April and October–November). These cycles are primarily driven by the passage of coastal trapped waves forced by equatorial Kelvin waves, inducing vertical thermocline displacements and regulating nitrate availability in the euphotic zone. The nitrate budget analysis shows that the vertical advection, linked to the coastal trapped waves (CTWs), is the dominant process supplying nitrate to the mixed layer during the main upwelling season. However, near the Congo River mouth (5.5° S–6° S), the horizontal advection plays a key role, supplying significant amounts of nitrate through the river plume. In the lower euphotic layer, the vertical mixing contributes to the nitrate loss during the upwelling but becomes a source of nitrate during the downwelling periods. The seasonal cycle of the chlorophyll-a (CHLa) concentration follows that of nitrate, confirming that the primary production in this region is mainly driven by nitrate availability. The study also highlights the role of the Angola Current in transporting low-nitrate waters from the Equatorial Undercurrent, which influences the nitrate and CHLa balance in the Congolese upwelling system.

These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms governing nutrient dynamics and biological productivity in the Congolese upwelling system. Understanding these processes is crucial for assessing the impact of climate variability on the regional marine ecosystems and fisheries.