title: Satellite-observed variability of phytoplankton size classes associated with a cold eddy in the South China Sea.
abstract: Ocean-color remote sensing has been used as a tool to detect phytoplankton size classes (PSCs). In this study, a three-component model of PSC was reparameterized using seven years of pigment measurements acquired in the South China Sea (SCS). The model was then used to infer PSC in a cyclonic eddy which was observed west of Luzon Island from SeaWiFS chlorophyll-a (chla) and sea-surface height anomaly (SSHA) products. Enhanced productivity and a shift in the PSC were observed, which were likely due to upwelling of nutrient-rich water into the euphotic zone. The supply of nutrients promoted the growth of larger cells (micro- and nanoplankton), and the PSC shifted to greater sizes. However, the picoplankton were still important and contributed ∼48% to total chla concentration. In addition, PSC time series revealed a lag period of about three weeks between maximum eddy intensity and maximum chlorophyll, which may have been related to phytoplankton growth rate and duration of eddy intensity.
authors.affiliation: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301,China.
authors.forename: Junfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301,China. Electronic address: wxcao@scsio.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Wenxi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301,China.
authors.forename: Guifen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301,China.
authors.forename: Shuibo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010679:Philippines; D010839:Phytoplankton; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Mesoscale eddy; Phytoplankton size class; Remote sensing; South China Sea