Linkage between Freshwater Inflow and Primary Productivity in Texas Estuaries: Downscaling Effects of Climate Variability

Abstract

ABSTRACT Kim, H.; Son, S.; Montagna, P.; Spiering, B. and Nam, J., 2014. Linkage between freshwater inflow and primary productivity in Texas estuaries: Downscaling effects of climate variability. The estuaries of Texas are lagoons that lie in a climatic gradient in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Estuaries located in the northeastern part of the Texas coast receive more rainfall than estuaries in the southwestern part, and consequently greater runoff and concomitant freshwater inflow. Extreme inter-annual variability of precipitation caused by El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events is another characteristic of the Texas coast. During El Nino periods, salinities in Texas estuaries decrease because of increased precipitation and increased freshwater inflow to the coast. During La Nina periods, salinities increase due to drier climatic conditions and reduced freshwater inflow. The combination of the climatic gradient and temporal variability of freshwater inflow drive changes in the frequency, tim...