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Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Salinity in a Large and Shallow Tropical Estuary of the Western Caribbean

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Abstract

Salinity profiles and meteorological data were analyzed during February, May, and September 2006 in Chetumal Bay, a large, shallow estuary of the Western Caribbean. Local meteorological conditions revealed three seasons: (1) a dry season (March–May); (2) a wet season (June–October); and (3) the nortes season, with northerly wind events (October–February). During the nortes and wet seasons, salinity ranged between 13 and 16 psu, and salinity was highest in the dry season, ranging between 18 and 22 psu over most of the area; a strong stratification and a significant contribution of salty water characterized this season. Strong horizontal gradients were observed near Rio Hondo during the three seasons. Deep and narrow peculiar bathymetric features called the pozas showed a strong stratification and a relatively high salinity. The northern part of Chetumal Bay and probably the entire system are far from being homogeneous.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología), research project 46484. We thank Eduardo Suarez and Miguel Lavín, who subjected the manuscript to rigorous scrutiny and much improved its quality. The comments from two anonymous reviewers were very helpful to improve an earlier version of this contribution manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Depto. Ecología y Sistemática Acuática, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Av. Centenario km. 5.5, Col. Pacto Obrero, 77014, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    Laura Carrillo, Mario Yescas & Ana María Ramírez-Manguilar

  2. Depto. de Física, Universidad de Guadalajara, Revolución 1500, Col. Olímpica, Sector Reforma, 44840, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

    Emilio Palacios-Hernández

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  1. Laura Carrillo
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  2. Emilio Palacios-Hernández
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  4. Ana María Ramírez-Manguilar
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Correspondence to Laura Carrillo.

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Carrillo, L., Palacios-Hernández, E., Yescas, M. et al. Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Salinity in a Large and Shallow Tropical Estuary of the Western Caribbean. Estuaries and Coasts 32, 906–916 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9196-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9196-2

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