Analysis on the relations between sea surface temperature and phy toplankton Chlorophyll-a in the South China Sea

Abstract

Abstract: Based on the Sea WiFS-derived chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) mass concentration and TRMM sea-surface temperature data from September 1997 to February 2007 from the South China Sea (SCS),seasonal variations of Chl-a and its relationship with sea surface temperature (SST) were studied. The results show that the Chl-a mass concentration of the SCS has remarkable seasonal variability. Generally the lowest phytoplankton Chl-a mass concentration(<0. 12 mg·m^-3) occurs in spring or summer with low wind speed and high SST (>28 C), while the highest Chl-a mass concentration (>0. 16 mg·m^-3) occurs in winter with the strongest monsoon wind and low SST (<27 C). The linear regression analysis shows that Chl-a mass concentration has obvious negative correlations with SST. Though the correlations level is different for the 4 typical sub-regions of the south,central, and west SCS and the upwelling zone southeast of V ietnam,the consistent negative correlations imply that the Chl-a mass concentration and phytoplankton biomass are controlled by vertical stratification reflected by the temperature variation. The SST is a key factor influencing the upper ocean stability and the strength of vertical exchanges, and thus controlling the variations of nutrients and phytoplankton.

Key words: South China Sea, Chlorophyll-a, sea surface temperature, seasonal variation

CLC Number:

Q948.11

LIN Li-ru, ZHAO Hui. Analysis on the relations between sea surface temperature and phy toplankton Chlorophyll-a in the South China Sea[J]. Journal of Marine Sciences, 2012, 30(4): 46-54.

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