Although the environmental status of the Moroccan Atlantic coastal waters has been researched in previous studies, there is still a lack of knowledge about its biogeochemical functioning. Especially for the Agadir coast where measurements are quite scarce, realistic ecological models can help identifying the key mechanisms driving fluctuations in such coastal areas. Here we implemented a three-dimensional (3D) coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model in order investigate the time-space distribution of inorganic nutrients (NO₃, PO₄ and SiO₄), and their control on phytoplankton (diatoms, flagellates) biomass on the Agadir coast. Model performance was evaluated against satellite observations and climatology data. The model achieved satisfactory representation of the sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a, and a reasonable agreement in the seasonal pattern of inorganic nutrients. Based on nutrient concentrations and their stoichiometric ratio; the study points to nitrate as the key factor controlling phytoplankton distribution (largely dominated by flagellates). Nitrate depletion occurs faster than phosphate and silicate, thus driving the area towards nitrogen limitation.

尽管在先前的研究中已经研究了摩洛哥大西洋沿岸水域的环境状况，但是仍然缺乏关于其生物地球化学功能的知识。特别是对于缺乏足够测量的阿加迪尔（Agadir）海岸，现实的生态模型可以帮助确定驱动此类沿海地区波动的关键机制。为了研究无机营养物（NO 3，PO 3和SiO 3）的时空分布及其对阿加迪尔海岸浮游植物（硅藻，鞭毛）生物量的控制，我们实施了三维（3D）耦合水动力-生物地球化学模型。针对卫星观测和气候数据评估了模型性能。该模型获得了令人满意的海面温度叶绿素-a表示，并与无机养分的季节性模式达成合理共识。根据养分浓度及其化学计量比；该研究指出硝酸盐是控制浮游植物分布的主要因素（主要由鞭毛虫控制）。硝酸盐消耗的发生速度快于磷酸盐和硅酸盐，因此驱使该区域趋向氮限制。