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Mauritanian EEZ - Environment

Mauritania experiences a desert climate on the western edge of the Sahara, air temperatures reach a minimum of 4°C in September, averaging between 20°C and 22°C, apart from in July and October when temperatures average 24°C. During the cold season, water temperature may increase by as much as 10.8oC from 100 m depth to the surface. Four types of water masses interact off Mauritania:

  • Canaries cool saline water, < 20°C and > 36.2‰.
  • Warm and less saline water, > 20°C and <36.2 ‰.
  • Cool and fairly saline deep water; 14°C-17°C and between 35.9 ‰ and 36.2 ‰. This water is brought to the surface during upwelling, which is most intense from February to June.
  • Water of coastal reheating which is warm and saline, > 24°C and > 36.4‰. This water, which remains on the Bench of Arguin Park and Bay of Greyhound from June to December, is not easily detectable at the large spatial scale during some periods.

Upwelling is one of most important characteristics of Mauritanian waters; indeed this phenomenon is the reason for the abundant marine resources found here, particularly in the Arguin Bank Park, where phytoplankton blooms support a productive food web. Upwelling occurs all year round in the north and only 9 months of the year in the southern costs. The broad Mauritanian Current flows northwards and meets the wind-driven Saharan Current flowing southwards over the continental shelf, creating anticyclonic flow.