Articles | Volume 13, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-455-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-455-2016
Research article
 | 
22 Jan 2016
Research article |  | 22 Jan 2016

Phytoplankton dynamics driven by vertical nutrient fluxes during the spring inter-monsoon period in the northeastern South China Sea

Q. P. Li, Y. Dong, and Y. Wang

Abstract. A field survey from the coastal ocean zones to the offshore pelagic zones of the northeastern South China Sea (nSCS) was conducted during the inter-monsoon period of May 2014 when the region was characterized by prevailing low-nutrient conditions. Comprehensive field measurements were made for not only hydrographic and biogeochemical properties but also phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates. We also performed estimations of the vertical turbulent diffusivity and diffusive nutrient fluxes using a Thorpe-scale method and the upwelling nutrient fluxes by Ekman pumping using satellite-derived wind stress curl. Our results indicated a positive correlation between the integrated phytoplankton chlorophyll a and vertical nutrient fluxes in the offshore region of the nSCS during the study period. We generally found an increasing role of turbulent diffusion but a decreasing role of curl-driven upwelling in vertical transport of nutrients from the coastal ocean zones to the offshore pelagic zones. Elevated nutrient fluxes near Dongsha Islands supported high new production leading to net growth of the phytoplankton community, whereas the low fluxes near the southwest of Taiwan had resulted in a negative net community growth leading to decline of a surface phytoplankton bloom. Overall, phytoplankton dynamics in the large part of the nSCS could be largely driven by vertical nutrient fluxes including turbulent diffusion and curl-driven upwelling during the spring inter-monsoon period.

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Short summary
Phytoplankton patchiness in the northeastern SCS during May 2014 could be largely controlled by vertical nutrient fluxes including turbulent diffusion and curl-driven upwelling. There was an increasing turbulent diffusion but decreasing curl-driven upwelling from the coastal upwelling zones to the offshore pelagic zones. Elevated fluxes near Dongsha led to net growth of a diatom-rich community, whereas low fluxes near southwest Taiwan resulted in a decline of a picoplankton bloom.
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