Physical oceanography in the Gulf of Guinea PLAN 1. Recalls & scientific context 2. International & regional programs and main goals of EGEE/AMMA, PIRATA & TACE 3. What is RIPIECSA and goals of RIPIECSA-Ocean (this presentation) 4. Goals and discussions about RIPIECSA-Ocean
Recalls on FSP-RIPIECSA: FSP: Fonds de Solidarité Prioritaire RIPIECSA: Recherche interdisciplinaire et participative sur les interactions entre les écosystèmes, le climat et les sociétés d Afrique de l Ouest. Funded by the French Foreign Ministry (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères: MAE) through AIRD (Agence française Inter-organismes de Recherche pour le Développement). 3 years program: 2007-2010 2 kinds of programs: 1) continuation and maintenance of observation networks in West Africa (already initiated with AMMA) for climate studies and predictability. Launched in May 2007. 6 funded over 16 proposed. 2) adaptation of societies (all aspects) to climate changes. Launched in November 2007.
History of this Ripiecsa/Ocean project (1/2): Many earlier collaborations between IRD physical oceanographers & West African scientists (eg Ivory Coast: CRO & LAPA; Senegal: CRODT & LPAO; Nigeria: NIOMR), during CITHER (1990s), EQUALANT (1999-2000), PIRATA (1997-) & EGEE (2003-) programs and cruises - 1st step: Dakar international AMMA conference (December 2005); scientists from african laboratories who participated to EGEE cruises and that contributed to their success (eg for clearances in the EEZ, helps for adminitrative tasks -eg port of Cotonou-, installation of autonomous thermometers in Cotonou ) were invited. Decision taken to proceed to a regional data inventory, first step before a regional scientific proposal. -2 nd step: 1st «IRD internal» proposal («toward a regional program of oceanography in West Africa linked to EGEE/AMMA») by B.Bourlès submitted to LEGOS and IRD (January 2006), supported by LEGOS and IRD.
History of this Ripiecsa/Ocean project (2/2): - 3rd step: Toulouse AMMA SOP meeting (November 2006) : Final version of the document about regional data inventory => decision taken by the present partners (Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and France) to think about a scientific proposal. - 4th step: 1st FSP-Ripiecsa congress in Bamako (Mali; January 2007), where A. B. Blivi (Togo) & B. Bourlès (France attended to present the proposal context & goals. - 5th step: Submission of the project to FSP-Ripiecsa in April 2007. => This program is one of the 6 funded in May 2007, up to 123k (153k asked).
Program PIs: Ayayi K. ARMAH (DOF, Ghana) Adoté B. BLIVI (CGILE, Togo) Bernard BOURLES (IRD/LEGOS, France) Roger DJIMAN (CRHOB, Benin), program main coordinator Regina FOLORUNSHO (NIOMR, Nigeria) Claude MAHAN (CRO, Ivory Coast) Delfin OCHOU & Angora AMAN (LAPA, Ivory Coast)
Scientific context: 1) key words: African Monsoon, Gulf of Guinea, Climate changes, Ressources, Coastal environment. 2) Ongoing international programs: - AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis) & EGEE, - PIRATA (Pilot Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic) - CLIVAR/TACE (Tropical Atlantic Climate Experiment), - ODINAFRICA (Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa) - GOOS/AFRICA (Global Ocean Observations System) - GCLME (Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem)
Scientific context: 3) Sea Surface Temperature & coastal upwelling (a): February 2000 August 2000 Coastal Upwelling June 15, 2005 June 15, 2006 June 15, 2007
Monsoon ~ Seasonal response to Ocean- Continent thermal differences in the Tropics Winter: weak thermal diff. High sea surf. temp. Ocean Summer: High thermal diff. Ocean Warm & humid air Low sea surf. temp. in upwelling areas Continent Rain Continent over heated
Scientific context: 3) Sea Surface Temperature & coastal upwelling (b): => sea surface temperature in the Gulf of Guinea varies at seasonal and interannual time scales, and thus may have a strong impact on climate (West African monsoon onset and intensity), precipitation (water resources), and fisheries. => Needs for more data and studies on coastal upwelling variability and its impacts!
Example of existing data: open ocean measurements 1) AMMA / EGEE cruises in the Gulf of Guinea: EGEE 3, 24 Mai 6 Juillet, 2006 Stations CTD 4 o N XBT XCTD 6 cruises: - June-July 2005, 2006 & 2007 - September 2005, November 2006, September 2007 Currents (surface-500m), Surface temperature & salinity, profiles of currents, temperature, salinity (surface-1000m), Profilers and drifters deployment, sea water samplings 0 o 4 o S 8 o S PIRATA mooring 12 o S 15 o W 10 o W 5 o W 0 o 5 o E 10 o E 15 o E 2) PIRATA meteo-ocean buoys: Daily satellite transmission of meteo and ocean data (from 1997) 3) ARGO profilers (T & S from surface to 2000m every 10 days): 4) Surface drifting buoys (SVP, NOAA/USA) Daily transmission of temperature and position (=> surface currents)
Preliminar important remarks : - Many oceanographic free data already exist in the Gulf of Guinea, but: - not known or easily accessible (need internet access) - needs for coastal measurements to complete the open ocean observations. - Many african laboratories dedicated to oceanography often too isolated and with few people, material means (eg internet access) or fundings.
Main goals of the program : Create a network of West African oceanographers in order to favor efficient collaborations and common works; Define priorities for scientific works, useful for each coastal countries and the scientific community; Building a common regional data base for these purposes; Maintain (autonomously) a network of coastal high quality measurements (already initiated in the framework of EGEE/AMMA) ; Reinforce the formation and the local capacities (link with universities).
The coastal Ripiecsa network: 1) Autonomous thermometers : To be installed Already installed + 2) autonomous salinometer in Togo planed + 3) meteorological station in Togo (Kpémé?) to be checked and also in Sao Tome (Egee) (maybe others?)
Contribution to the TACE PIRATA EGEE/AMMA observing network Ripiecsa Ocean coastal network Plan for a glider section by IRD, in 2009 (not funded yet!).