Abstract
Introduction: The Gulf of Papagayo (GP) is a site of socioeconomic importance located in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. The ecosystem services of this site represent a benefit in local communities, and its dynamics are influenced by a coastal upwelling system that affects fishing and commercial activity.
 Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the spatio-temporal variability of the main hydrographic parameters through measurements in situ during the period 2017-2019.
 Methods: Eight measurement campaigns were carried out, where a CTD probe was deployed to perform vertical profiles in 23 stations distributed throughout the GP, to characterize the variations in temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll concentration.
 Results: A minimum in surface and bottom temperature associated with upwelling caused by the wind was found in the first period of the year. The increase in salinity was associated with the decrease in temperature, being its highest value in the first period of the year, decreasing until reaching a minimum in November. The maximum chlorophyll concentration coincided with the lowest surface temperatures and the minimum oxygen values were associated with the minimum bottom temperatures, both occurring during the upwelling season. The parameter distribution was similar on dry and rainy seasons in stations located inside Bahía Culebra, likely attributed to the bathymetry effect.
 Conclusions: Bathymetry determines a south-north asymmetry for salinity and temperature. Subsurface cooling events coincide with strong wind periods. Upwelling influences the surface and bottom hydrographic dynamic in GP and determines the seasonal variability. The negative ENSO phase of 2018 corresponded with the strongest upwelling period, possibly promoting the interaction of upwelled coastal waters and the Costa Rica Thermal Dome.
Highlights
The Gulf of Papagayo (GP) is a site of socioeconomic importance located in the North Pacific of Costa Rica
We visually evaluated the correspondence of in-situ measurements with remote sensing data from the MODIS-Aqua radiometer for chlorophyll and from the GHRSST Level 4 G1SST products for sea surface temperature (Chao, Li, Farrara, & Huang, 2009)
We retrieved El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies data for the research period, which corresponded to La Niña conditions in late 2017 and early 2018, and transitioned to El Niño state in late 2018 and early 2019 (Table 1)
Summary
The Gulf of Papagayo (GP) is a site of socioeconomic importance located in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Methods: Eight measurement campaigns were carried out, where a CTD probe was deployed to perform vertical profiles in 23 stations distributed throughout the GP, to characterize the variations in temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll concentration. Results: A minimum in surface and bottom temperature associated with upwelling caused by the wind was found in the first period of the year. The increase in salinity was associated with the decrease in temperature, being its highest value in the first period of the year, decreasing until reaching a minimum in November. The maximum chlorophyll concentration coincided with the lowest surface temperatures and the minimum oxygen values were associated with the minimum bottom temperatures, both occurring during the upwelling season. Upwelling influences the surface and bottom hydrographic dynamic in GP and determines the seasonal variability. The negative ENSO phase of 2018 corresponded with the strongest upwelling period, possibly promoting the interaction of upwelled coastal waters and the Costa Rica Thermal Dome
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