Caracterización Hidrológica De Una Laguna Costera De Baja California Sur, México

From April 1997 to September 1998 ten samplings were carried out in Ensenada de La Paz in order to analize the spatial and seasonal variation of some physical and chemical parameters, and their association. Temperature and salinity showed differences at temperate season (April, May and June) and warm season (July, August and September). Average and standard deviation in the temperate season were 23.55±1.35°C, while in the warm were 30.25±0.95°C. In temperate season is frecuently found salinity greater than 37 ups, while in the warm season is less than 37 ups. Because of the high spatial variability it is not possible to use tipical average values for the rest of the parameters. However, during the temperate season low clorophyll values and high seston were registered, that could indicated that suspended matter is inorganic. Meanwhile, the last months of the warm season showed high clorophyll and high values of seston, wich could possibly be an indicator of ligth attenuation dueto organic matter (phytoplankton). Three groups were identified from statistical analysis (p<0.05). These groups represent the mouth, northern and southeastern areas in the lagoon. The parameters that explained the majority of the variance were temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, seston, water transparency and, to a lesser degre, the nutrients. In order to understand and manage coastal lagoons the seasonal characterization first, and the aplication of simulation models later, under different tide conditions, are basic.