IDENTIFICATION OF ALGAL BLOOM PHENOMENON IN AMBON BAY WATERS

• Main Author: Alfira Fitriana, Jihan
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Geologi, hidrologi & meteorologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/78436
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Ambon Bay is separated into Outer Ambon Bay (OAB) and Inner Ambon Bay (IAB) by sill. The existence of this narrow sill can constrain water mass circulation between IAB and OAB, potentially leading to eutrophication in IAB which can trigger the algal blooming phenomena. Therefore, the principal objective of this research is to observe the phenomenon of algal blooming in Ambon Bay. This research uses chlorophyll-a data from field observation, satellites data, and reanalysis data as proxies to assess blooming condition. The concentration of chlorophyll-a was high in IAB (maximum value 38,45 mg/m3) in January 2019 and November 2021, indicating a substantial amount of water mass trapped in the IAB area. In contrast, in October 2021, the exchange of water mass was not smooth as it remained trapped in the threshold area (maximum value 13,326 mg/m3). The PCA (Principal Component Analysis) results for January–March and May–July 2012, based on field monitoring data, revealed that temperature, chlorophyll-a, and phytoplankton were the primary components contributing to the variability of value in the IAB area (as indicated at stations 1 to 6). Meanwhile, salinity was identified as the primary component contributing to variability in the OAB area (as indicated at stations 9 to 18). The higher distribution pattern of chlorophyll-a in IAB compared to OAB, high probability was attributed to the less smooth water mass exchange, supported by tidal asymmetry and upwelling in the region.