Analysis of Ocean Current Observations in the Northern Veracruz Coral Reef System, Mexico: 2007–12

ABSTRACT Allende-Arandia, M.E.; Zavala-Hidalgo, J.; Romero-Centeno, R.; Mateos-Jasso, A.; Vargas-Hernandez, J.M., and Zamudio, L., 2016. Analysis of ocean current observations in the northern Veracruz Coral Reef System, Mexico: 2007–12. The Veracruz Coral Reef System (VCRS) is a marine protected area located on the continental shelf of Veracruz, in the SW Gulf of Mexico, that is formed by two reef conglomerates: one to the north, in front of the Port of Veracruz, and one to the south, in front of the Anton Lizardo tip. To characterize the currents and their variability for the northern reefs of the VCRS, ocean currents, meteorological parameters, and sea-level observations for the period 2007–12 were analyzed. The temporal variability of the currents was dominated by 2- to 10-day lasting events associated with the atmospheric synoptic conditions through the forcing of the along-coast wind-stress component over the Tamaulipas-Veracruz shelf. During autumn–winter, strong episodic southeastward currents prev...