1. Oceanography and its effects on the Galápagos Islands
By Morgan Ling

2. Galápagos Islands Archipelago of volcanic islands
Located between 89°W and 92°W along the equator
Known for its vast number of unique species studied by Darwin

3. Surrounding Current System
Galápagos platform located ~3000 ft below sea level
Average depth surrounding islands: ~9900 ft
Tropical
Mix of water temp
& salinity, productivity
Cooler
Warm-temperate
Higher salinity
Higher chlorophyll content

4. Upwelling

5. How Does Upwelling Occur?
I. Along coastlines
Coriolis effect in South Hemisphere
Humboldt Current
II. Along the equator
No Coriolis force
Trade winds from north east and south east (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone)
Cromwell Current
III. Around the Islands
As seafloor becomes shallower – forces deeper ocean currents to surface

6. Upwelling Effects Cold water rich with nutrients Nitrate and phosphate
Nutrients & sunlight important for phytoplankton and algae
Primary producer of ecosystem
Key to food production

7. El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Warm current that moves in southward direction
Occurs every 2-15 years around December
Approx. every 7 years: Humboldt Current interrupted by El Niño
Upwelling stopped
Water temp inc.
Cold water species forced to migrate

8. Effects of ENSO Winter of 1997/98 Increased rainfall & temperature
Beneficial for some terrestrial plants
Marine life negatively affected
Sea Lions suffered b/c lack of sardines
Marine Iguanas suffered b/c of a decrease of green algae
Many fish specifies found in deeper waters

9. A Brief Overview About the Marine Life
Galápagos marine ecosystem is considered intermediate-to-high in terms of species richness
~3000 species of marine plants & animals
21% found no where else on Earth
Many scientific expeditions occurred focusing on fish and other marine life
Different fish species exceeds 400
Wide range of habitats located in the Galápagos, including mangroves, rocky shores and sandy bottoms

10. Works Cited
"Upwelling - Discovering Galapagos." Discovering Galapagos. Discoveringgalapagos, n.d. Web. 02 Dec "El Niño - Discovering Galapagos." Discovering Galapagos. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec Fitz, John M. "Oceanography and Marine Life of the Galápagos Islands." Oceanography and Marine Life of the Galápagos Islands. University of Maryland, n.d. Web. 02 Dec "Galápagos Islands -- World Heritage Site -- National Geographic." National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 02 Dec Knauss, J.A., 1997, Introduction to Physical Oceanography, Waveland Press, Inc., Illinois, pp.