<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The effect of climate variability on estuarine water environments was assessed in two systems of the Bay of Biscay, the estuaries of Bilbao and Urdaibai, with contrasting morphology, hydrodynamic features and anthropogenic influence. To that purpose, the main time scales of variability in relevant environmental factors were established along spatial salinity gradients and, using a combination of multivariate and regression analyses, the contribution of each factor to the total variability, as well as the influence of climate factors in the seasonal and inter-annual estuarine environment variations were assessed. The major seasonal modes of variability in the water environments of both estuaries were accounted for by water temperature together with salinity stratification and/or chlorophyll <italic>a</italic>. This seasonal variability was associated with climate variability, as shown by the relationship with air temperature and river flow. The major inter-annual modes of variability were also accounted for by water temperature, along with dissolved oxygen and/or chlorophyll <italic>a</italic> in Bilbao, and chlorophyll <italic>a</italic> and/or transparency in Urdaibai. These were also associated with climate variability, in this case summer air temperatures. Water quality variables, such as dissolved oxygen and transparency, were found to be sensitive to reveal the effect of long term anthropogenic activities.</p>
</abstract>

The effect of climate variability on estuarine water environments was assessed in two systems of the Bay of Biscay, the estuaries of Bilbao and Urdaibai, with contrasting morphology, hydrodynamic features and anthropogenic influence. To that purpose, the main time scales of variability in relevant environmental factors were established along spatial salinity gradients and, using a combination of multivariate and regression analyses, the contribution of each factor to the total variability, as well as the influence of climate factors in the seasonal and inter-annual estuarine environment variations were assessed. The major seasonal modes of variability in the water environments of both estuaries were accounted for by water temperature together with salinity stratification and/or chlorophyll a. This seasonal variability was associated with climate variability, as shown by the relationship with air temperature and river flow. The major inter-annual modes of variability were also accounted for by water temperature, along with dissolved oxygen and/or chlorophyll a in Bilbao, and chlorophyll a and/or transparency in Urdaibai. These were also associated with climate variability, in this case summer air temperatures. Water quality variables, such as dissolved oxygen and transparency, were found to be sensitive to reveal the effect of long term anthropogenic activities.

Assessment of the climate and human impact on estuarine water environments in two estuaries of the Bay of Biscay

Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Pharmacy

University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The effect of climate variability on estuarine water environments was assessed in two systems of the Bay of Biscay, the estuaries of Bilbao and Urdaibai, with...

Assessment of the climate and human impact on estuarine water environments in two estuaries of the Bay of Biscay

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Dec 12, 2016

Page range: 505 - 523

Received: Feb 09, 2016

Accepted: Apr 13, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0043

Keywords
estuaries, environmental variability, temperature, climate, anthropogenic impact, Bay of Biscay

© Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Assessment of the climate and human impact on estuarine water environments in two estuaries of the Bay of Biscay

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Dec 12, 2016

Page range: 505 - 523

Received: Feb 09, 2016

Accepted: Apr 13, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0043

Keywordsestuaries, environmental variability, temperature, climate, anthropogenic impact, Bay of Biscay

© Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
estuaries, environmental variability, temperature, climate, anthropogenic impact, Bay of Biscay