Oceanographic Characterzation of Solano Bay

Abstract

A characterization of oceanographic physical parameters of Solano Bay were performed, which is located north of the Colombian Pacific coast, starting from data obtained from two oceanographic surveys, conducted by the Pacific Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center in two periods of 2013. The Hydrodynamic movement patterns during the tidal cycle have a clear - tide current relation in the order of their movements. The flow direction is affected by changes in the tidal cycle, and this hydrodynamics follows a pattern subject to the bathymetry of the bay and winds. The results of this characterization showed that the bay has a semidiurnal tides regime, meso-tidal, whose influence on the current field is mixed type. Residual currents establish a bay that exports salt, which is influenced by the force exerted by the wind. It was determined that the meteorological variables influence the ocean - atmosphere interaction in the bay, these can cause changes in the surface currents. On the other hand, the abundant rainfall can generate variations in the salinity and surface temperature. The distribution of the same cross is spatially uniform, and throughout the tidal cycle there are slight variations in the thermocline and halocline.