Importance of Oceanography and Hydrography Research · PDF fileImportance of Oceanography and...

Importance of Oceanography and Hydrography Research in Kenya

Charles Magori

KMFRI

Mombasa

Oceanography and Hydrography Department

This Department deals with physical, chemical, biological and geological oceanography of the inshore, near shore and offshore waters and support bioprospecting in these waters.

Undertake hydrographic surveys.

Sea level data, sedimentation and mathematical modeling.

Responsible for research on sustainable use and protection of aquatic resources in marine waters.

Monitor and document the physical (including geological) and chemical characteristics (including pollution and nutrient dynamics) of the various aquatic ecosystems to discern natural and/or human induced changes.

Undertake studies on the interrelationships between biota and their aquatic environments in relation to fisheries, aquaculture and conservation of biodiversity.

Promote Integrated coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach in the management of coastal and marine resources.

Offshore Observations • NIOP, 1992 – 93 (RV Tyro) Studied the effect of the monsoon on the climate system in the northern Indian Ocean. • SWIOFP Cruises, 2011 - 2012 CTD profiles

A Seabird 911 CTD plus is used to obtain vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and oxygen

• ASCLME Cruise (cancelled) • Seismic vessels • Delineation of outer continental shelf • KenSea

Nearshore Observations • Sea Level monitoring • Oceanography of inshore areas • Shoreline change studies • ASCLME MEDA process

Currents - Offshore

NEM-Current systems SEM-Current Systems

Source: Nguli 2006

Continental shelf of Kenya Bathymetry

Source: Nguli et al, 2006

Map of Kenyan coast showing the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with the agreed extension

Upgraded Mombasa KMFRI GLOSS Tide Station

Lamu KMFRI GLOSS tide station

Mombasa

Lamu

11-Dec-1998 30-Jan-1999 21-Mar-1999 10-May-199929-Jun-1999 18-Aug-1999 07-Oct-1999 26-Nov-1999 15-Jan-2000-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Residual: Red; Observed: Blue; Predicted : Magenta

15-Dec-200103-Feb-2002 25-Mar-2002 14-May-2002 03-Jul-2002 22-Aug-2002 11-Oct-2002 30-Nov-2002 19-Jan-2003-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Residual: Red; Observed: Blue; Predicted : Magenta

Sea-level trends at KMFRI Mombasa station

y = 1.9621x - 533.43

2700

2750

2800

2850

2900

2950

3000

3050

1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000

Year

Se

a-L

evel

(mm

)

LAMU SEA LEVEL, DECEMBER 26, 2004

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

Time (Hour), De ce mbe r 26 2004

Se

a L

ev

el

(m)

Lamu Tide Station

Indian Ocean Tsunami Travel Time

KMFRI Research Vessel RV Mtafiti

Aquadopp RCM Aanderaa RCM

Population density, Elevation and SLR

Digital Elevation Modeling (DEM)

0 10 20 30 40 50-2

-1

0

1

2

Time (hours)

Wat

er le

vel (

m)

0 10 20 30 40 50-1

0

1

2W

ater

leve

ls (m

)Neap

Spring

0 10 20 30 40 50-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Time (hours)

Velo

citie

s (c

ms-1

)

Modeling results for Mtwapa creek

Blue – Observed Red - Predicted

15 20 25 30-150

-100

-50

0Temperature Profile

Temperature (oC)

De

pth

(m

)

30 32 34 36-150

-100

-50

0Salinity Profile

Salinity (PSU)

De

pth

(m

)

30 32 34 3618

20

22

24

26

28T-S Diagram

Salinity (PSU)

Te

mp

era

ture

(oC

)

CTD Casting Ugwana Bay

National Oceanographic Activities

• AMESD e-station

• Biodiversity assessment of critical coastal habitats.

• Enhanced regional collaboration between ocean and climate experts to improve climate forecasts

• Hosting the national oceanographic data base (KeNODC)

• Hosting regional ocean teacher academy (OTA)

• Capacity Building in Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.

• UN Regular Process that aims to assess both the state of the environment and the impacts of key human interactions with ocean ecosystem including socio-economics.

• State of the Coast Report for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region (ICZM Process).

• preparation of the State of Marine Environment (SME) Report for Kenya.

Challenges

• High cost of marine observations platform and equipment (e.g. Research Vessel, CTD, ADCP, etc)

• Inadequate scientific and technical capacity in the areas of Physical Oceanography and Coastal Hydrology

• Develop capacity to make our own survey charts

• Piracy in the WIO region

ASCLME planned cruise in 2009 to study EACC and SC cancelled

Potential Areas of Collaboration and Opportunities

• Joint oceanographic (physical, chemical, biological and geological)

cruises between KMFRI and VLIZ teams onboard RV Mtafiti.

• Topographic and bathymetric mapping (MBES) – bathymetric charts.

• Hydrographic surveys for the inshore areas (creeks, bays lagoons, and nearshore and some parts of the outer shelf in order to add to the GEBCO data, improve navigation and for model development to mitigate erosion, pollution (oil/sewage), tsunami inundation and early warning, maritime transportation in, into/out of harbors.

• Enhanced ocean surface, sub-surface and atmospheric observations to further understand these processes to improve the ocean forecasting.

• Deployment of drifting buoys and Argo floats for integrated observations.

• Capacity building in Oceanography (Internships, MSc. and PhD. courses for young Scientists).

• Satellite oceanography and climate change (SST, SSS, Sea state, altimeter, etc.