@article{fdi:010084663,
  title = {{S}easonal and interannual variability of salinity in a large {W}est-{A}frican lagoon ({N}okoue {L}agoon, {B}enin)},
  author = {{O}kpeitcha, {O}. {V}. and {C}haigneau, {A}lexis and {M}orel, {Y}. and {S}tieglitz, {T}homas and {P}omalegni, {Y}. and {S}ohou, {Z}. and {M}ama, {D}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{N}okoue {L}agoon in the {S}outh of {B}enin is a large intermittent coastal water body in {W}est {A}frica, which supports one of the largest inland fisheries of the region. {T}he seasonal and interannual variability of its salinity was studied, based on 3 years of monthly surveys ({D}ec 2017-{D}ec 2020). {T}his dataset allows us to identify fine-scale salinity structures and to better understand the salinization/desalinization processes at seasonal scales. {D}uring the rainy season from {M}ay to {N}ovember, under the influence of large freshwater inflows from the rivers on its northern shores, the lagoon desalinizes to a salinity of zero in {O}ctober-{N}ovember. {D}uring the dry season from {D}ecember to {A}pril, under the effect of the ocean tide, {N}okoue lagoon becomes progressively saltier, reaching typical salinities of ~25 in {A}pril. {O}n average, the {N}okoue lagoon is saltier in its southwestern part and fresher towards the river's mouths.& nbsp;{V}ertical salinity stratification is largest in {D}ecember at the beginning of the main dry season. {T}he lagoon displays a very marked interannual variation with mean surface (bottom, respectively) salinity of 25 (25) in {A}pril 2018 and 2020, respectively, against 16 (18) in {A}pril 2019. {I}n the absence of river inflow data, a box model shows that the average salinity of the lagoon is very sensitive to small changes in river inflow (or discharge), with observed interannual differences in salinity induced by small variations of 10-15 m(3) s(-1) in inflow during the dry season. {D}uring the salinization phase, the model suggests that ~30% of the seawater entering the lagoon during flood-tides remains trapped and enhances the {N}okoue lagoon salinity. {T}his model also indicates that a complete desalinization of the lagoon occurs for river inflow greater than ~50-60 m(3) s(-1). {T}he general mixing time scale of the lagoon is of 30-40 days.},
  keywords = {{S}alinity ; {T}ropical lagoon ; {N}okoue lagoon ; {S}easonal and ; interannual variations ; {S}tratification ; {B}ox model ; {BENIN} ; {NOKOUE} {LAGUNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}stuarine {C}oastal and {S}helf {S}cience},
  volume = {264},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107689 [10 ]},
  ISSN = {0272-7714},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107689},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084663},
}