Variability of surface chlorophyll concentration in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Abstract

We collected information on seasonal and interannual variability of surface chlorophyll a concentration between 1997-2007 from the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Satellite data were used to acquire chlorophyll a and sea surface temperature from six regions: East Sea/Ulleung Basin, East China Sea, Philippin Sea, Warm Pool region, Warm Pool North region, and Warm Pool East region. Mixed layer depth (MLD) was calculated from temperature profiles of ARGO floats data in four of the six regions during 2002-2007. In the East Sea/Ulleung Basin, seasonal variability of chlorophyll a concentration was attributed to seasonal change of MLD, while there was no significant relationship between chlorophyll a concentration and MLD in the Warm Pool region. Interannual anomaly in sea surface temperature were similar among the East Sea, East China Sea, Philippin Sea, and Warm Pool North region. The anomaly pattern was reversed in the Warm Pool East region. However, the anomaly pattern in the Warm Pool region was intermediate of the two patterns. In relation to chlorophyll a, there was a reversed interannual anomaly pattern between Warm Pool North and Warm Pool East, while the anomaly pattern in the Warm Pool region was similar to that of Warm Pool North except for the El Niño years (1997/1998, 2002/2003, 2006/2007). However, there was no distinct relationship among other seas. Interestingly, in the Warm Pool and Warm Pool East regions, sea surface temperature showed a pronounced inverse pattern with chlorophyll a. This indicates a strong interrelationship among sea surface temperature-MLD-chlorophyll a in the regions. In the Warm Pool and Warm Pool East, zonal distribution of chlorophyll a concentration within the past 10 years has shown a good relationship with sea surface temperature which reflects ENSO variability.