Physical Environments of the Caribbean Sea

摘要: The Caribbean Sea encompasses a vast range of physical environmental conditions that have profound influence on the organisms live there. Here we utilize satellite and in situ products to undertake region-wide categorization environments (PECS). classification approach is hierarchical focuses constraints drive many aspects coastal ecology, including species distributions, ecosystem function, disturbance. first level represents physicochemical properties metrics sea surface temperature, water clarity, salinity. second considers mechanical disturbance includes both chronic from wind-driven wave exposure acute hurricanes. maps spatial resolution 1 km2. An unsupervised neural network produced 16 provinces can be categorized into six broad groups: (1) low clarity salinity average temperatures; (2) but broadly distributed basin; (3) temperature; (4) upwelling; (5) high latitude; (6) offshore waters inner Caribbean. Additional layers impose additional pattern operates over different scales. Because underpin so much structure anticipate PECS classification, which will freely as geographic information system layers, facilitate comparative analyses inform stratification studies across basin.