Articles | Volume 22, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3165-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3165-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Jul 2025
Research article |
| 03 Jul 2025
| 03 Jul 2025
Phytoplankton blooming mechanisms over the East China Sea during post-El Niño summers
Dong-Geon Lee
Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
Ji-Hoon Oh
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
Jonghun Kam
Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
Interdisciplinary Program in Artificial Intelligence, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
Related authors
Dong-Geon Lee, Eun Young Kwon, Jonghun Kam, and Jong-Seong Kug
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1474, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1474, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Phytoplankton communities in the Sub-Polar North Atlantic shift towards smaller species under greenhouse warming, with limited recovery even under CO2 removal. This shift results from reduced surface nutrient availability caused by the weakened Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which recovers slowly. Nutrient depletion disrupts trophic dynamics, decreasing diatoms and increasing smaller phytoplankton, leading to a significant reduction in the ocean's carbon export capacity.
Dong-Geon Lee, Eun Young Kwon, Jonghun Kam, and Jong-Seong Kug
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1474, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1474, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Phytoplankton communities in the Sub-Polar North Atlantic shift towards smaller species under greenhouse warming, with limited recovery even under CO2 removal. This shift results from reduced surface nutrient availability caused by the weakened Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which recovers slowly. Nutrient depletion disrupts trophic dynamics, decreasing diatoms and increasing smaller phytoplankton, leading to a significant reduction in the ocean's carbon export capacity.
Cited articles
Beardsley, R. C., Limeburner, R., Yu, H., and Cannon, G. A.: Discharge of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) into the East China Sea, Cont. Shelf Res., 4, 57–76, https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(85)90022-6, 1985.
Behrenfeld, M. J., O'Malley, R. T., Siegel, D. A., McClain, C. R., Sarmiento, J. L., Feldman, G. C., Milligan, A. J., Falkowski, P. G., Letelier, R. M., and Boss, E. S.: Climate-driven trends in contemporary ocean productivity, Nature, 444, 752–755, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05317, 2006.
Carton, J. A., Chepurin, G. A., and Chen, L.: SODA3: A new ocean climate reanalysis, J. Climate, 31, 6967–6983, https://doi.org/10.1175/jcli-d-18-0149.1, 2018.
Cavcar, M.: International Standard Atmosphere, in BS, Anadolu Univ., Turkey, 30, 1–6, 2000.
Chen, C.-T. A.: The Kuroshio intermediate water is the major source of nutrients on the East China Sea continental shelf, Oceanol. Acta, 19, 523–527, 1996.
Chen, C. A.: Buoyancy leads to high productivity of the Changjiang diluted water: a note, Acta Oceanol. Sin., 27, 133–140, 2008.
Chen, C. T. A.: The Three Gorges Dam: Reducing the upwelling and thus productivity in the East China Sea, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 381–383, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999GL002373, 2000.
Chen, C. T. A., Ruo, R., Paid, S. C., Liu, C. T., and Wong, G. T. F.: Exchange of water masses between the East China Sea and the Kuroshio off northeastern Taiwan, Cont. Shelf Res., 15, 19–39, https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(93)E0001-O, 1995.
Chen, C. T. A., Liu, C. T., Chuang, W. S., Yang, Y. J., Shiah, F. K., Tang, T. Y., and Chung, S. W.: Enhanced buoyancy and hence upwelling of subsurface Kuroshio waters after a typhoon in the southern East China Sea, J. Mar. Syst., 42, 65–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(03)00065-4, 2003.
Chen, C. T. A., Yeh, Y. T., Chen, Y. C., and Huang, T. H.: Seasonal and ENSO-related interannual variability of subsurface fronts separating West Philippine Sea waters from South China Sea waters near the Luzon Strait, Deep-Sea Res. Pt. I, 103, 13–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.05.002, 2015.
Chowdary, J. S., Hu, K., Srinivas, G., Kosaka, Y., Wang, L., and Rao, K. K.: The Eurasian Jet Streams as Conduits for East Asian Monsoon Variability, Curr. Clim. Chang. Reports, 5, 233–244, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-019-00134-x, 2019.
Danielsdottir, M. G., Brett, M. T., and Arhonditsis, G. B.: Phytoplankton food quality control of planktonic food web processes, Hydrobiologia, 589, 29–41, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0714-6, 2007.
Dunne, J. P., John, J. G., Shevliakova, E., Stouffer, R. J., Krasting, J. P., Malyshev, S. L., Milly, P. C. D., Sentman, L. T., Adcroft, A. J., Cooke, W., Dunne, K. A., Griffies, S. M., Hallberg, R. W., Harrison, M. J., Levy, H., Wittenberg, A. T., Phillips, P. J., and Zadeh, N.: GFDL's ESM2 Global Coupled Climate–Carbon Earth System Models. Part II: Carbon System Formulation and Baseline Simulation Characteristics, J. Climate, 26, 2247–2267, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00150.1, 2013.
E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (CMEMS): Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Hindcast, Marine Data Store (MDS) [data set], https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00019, 2024 (data available at: https://data.marine.copernicus.eu/products, last access: 24 November 2024).
Field, C. B., Behrenfeld, M. J., Randerson, J. T., and Falkowski, P.: Primary production of the biosphere: Integrating terrestrial and oceanic components, Science, 281, 237–240, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.281.5374.237, 1998.
Gill, A. E.: Some simple solutions for heat-induced tropical circulation, Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 106, 447–462, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.49710644905, 1980.
He, X., Bai, Y., Pan, D., Chen, C.-T. A., Cheng, Q., Wang, D., and Gong, F.: Satellite views of the seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton blooms in the eastern China seas over the past 14 yr (1998–2011), Biogeosciences, 10, 4721–4739, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-4721-2013, 2013.
Henson, S. A., Sarmiento, J. L., Dunne, J. P., Bopp, L., Lima, I., Doney, S. C., John, J., and Beaulieu, C.: Detection of anthropogenic climate change in satellite records of ocean chlorophyll and productivity, Biogeosciences, 7, 621–640, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-621-2010, 2010.
Hill, A. E.: Buoyancy effects in coastal and shelf seas, Sea, 10, 21–62, 1998.
Huang, B., Thorne, P. W., Banzon, V. F., Boyer, T., Chepurin, G., Lawrimore, J. H., Menne, M. J., Smith, T. M., Vose, R. S., and Zhang, H. M.: Extended reconstructed Sea surface temperature, Version 5 (ERSSTv5): Upgrades, validations, and intercomparisons, J. Climate, 30, 8179–8205, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0836.1, 2017 (data available at: https://psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded/data.noaa.ersst.v5.html, last access: 28 November 2023).
Huang, T. H., Chen, C. T. A., Zhang, W. Z., and Zhuang, X. F.: Varying intensity of Kuroshio intrusion into Southeast Taiwan Strait during ENSO events, Cont. Shelf Res., 103, 79–87, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2015.04.021, 2015.
Huang, T. H., Chen, C. T. A., Lee, J., Wu, C. R., Wang, Y. L., Bai, Y., He, X., Wang, S. L., Kandasamy, S., Lou, J. Y., Tsuang, B. J., Chen, H. W., Tseng, R. S., and Yang, Y. J.: East China Sea increasingly gains limiting nutrient P from South China Sea, Sci. Rep., 9, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42020-4, 2019.
Kanamitsu, M., Wesley, E., Jack, W., Yang, S., Hnilo, J. J., Fiorino, M., and Potter, G. L.: NCEP–DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis (R-2), B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 83, 1631–1644, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-83-11-1631, 2002 (data available at: https://psl.noaa.gov/data/gridded/reanalysis/, last access: 19 October 2023).
Kessler, W. S.: The circulation of the eastern tropical Pacific: A review, Prog. Oceanogr., 69, 181–217, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2006.03.009, 2006.
Kim, J. H.: Statistical Results, Korean J. Anesthesiol., 72, 558–569, 2019.
Kim, S. and Kug, J. S.: What Controls ENSO Teleconnection to East Asia? Role of Western North Pacific Precipitation in ENSO Teleconnection to East Asia, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 123, 10 406–10 422, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD028935, 2018.
Kim, G.-I., Oh, J. H., Shin, N. Y., An, S.-I., Yeh, S. W., Shin, J., and Kug, J. S.: Deep ocean warming-induced El Niño changes, Nat. Commun., 15, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50663-9, 2024.
Kim, T.-W., Lee, K., Najja Raymond G, Jeong, H.-D., and Jeong, H. J.: Increasing N Abundance in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean Due to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition, Science, 334, 505–509, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1206583, 2011.
Kock, N. and Lynn, G. S.: Lateral collinearity and misleading results in variance-based SEM: An illustration and recommendations, J. Assoc. Inf. Syst., 13, 546–580, https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00302, 2012.
Kug, J.-S., Jin, F.-F., and An, S.-I.: Two Types of El Niño Events: Cold Tongue El Niño and Warm Pool El Niño, J. Climate, 22, 1499–1515, https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JCLI2624.1, 2009.
Kug, J. S., Choi, J., An, S.-I., Jin, F. F., and Wittenberg, A. T.: Warm pool and cold tongue El Niño events as simulated by the GFDL 2.1 coupled GCM, J. Climate, 23, 1226–1239, https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JCLI3293.1, 2010.
Kwon, M. H., Jhun, J. G., Wang, B., An, S.-I., and Kug, J. S.: Decadal change in relationship between east Asian and WNP summer monsoons, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, 1–4, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023026, 2005.
Lee, D.-G., Oh, J.-H., Kam, J., and Kug, J.-S.: Phytoplankton blooming mechanisms over the East China Sea during post-El Nino summers, figshare [data set], https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.29411354.v1.2025, 2025 (data available at: https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Phytoplankton_blooming_mechanisms_over_the_East_China_Sea_during_post-El_Nino_summers/29411354, last access: 26 June 2025).
Li, T., Wang, B., Wu, B., Zhou, T., Chang, C.-P., and Zhang, R.: Theories on formation of an anomalous anticyclone in western North Pacific during El Niño: A review, J. Meteorol. Res., 31, 987–1006, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-017-7147-6, 2017.
Li, T., Wang, B., and Chang, C. P.: A review of mechanisms for formation of an anomalous anticyclone in western north pacific during el niño, Multiscale Glob. Monsoon Syst., 31, 91–102, https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811216602_0008, 2021.
Liu, K. K., Chao, S. Y., Lee, H. J., Gong, G. C., and Teng, Y. C.: Seasonal variation of primary productivity in the East China Sea: A numerical study based on coupled physical-biogeochemical model, Deep.-Sea Res. Pt. II, 57, 1762–1782, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.04.003, 2010.
Liu, S. M., Zhang, J., and Jiang, W. S.: Pore water nutrient regeneration in shallow coastal Bohai Sea, China, J. Oceanogr., 59, 377–385, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025576212927, 2003.
Matsuno, T.: Quasi-Geostrophic Motions in the Equatorial Area, J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan. Ser. II, 44, 25–43, https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj1965.44.1_25, 1966.
Moon, J. Y., Lee, K., Lim, W. A., Lee, E., Dai, M., Choi, Y. H., Han, I. S., Shin, K., Kim, J. M., and Chae, J.: Anthropogenic nitrogen is changing the East China and Yellow seas from being N deficient to being P deficient, Limnol. Oceanogr., 66, 914–924, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11651, 2021.
Park, T., Jang, C. J., Kwon, M., Na, H., and Kim, K. Y.: An effect of ENSO on summer surface salinity in the Yellow and East China Seas, J. Mar. Syst., 141, 122–127, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.03.017, 2015.
Sarmiento, J. L., Slater, R. D., Dunne, J., Gnanadesikan, A., and Hiscock, M. R.: Efficiency of small scale carbon mitigation by patch iron fertilization, Biogeosciences, 7 (Suppl.), 3593–3624, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-3593-2010, 2010.
Sathyendranath, S., Brewin, R. J. W., Brockmann, C., Brotas, V., Calton, B., Chuprin, A., Cipollini, P., Couto, A. B., Dingle, J., Doerffer, R., Donlon, C., Dowell, M., Farman, A., Grant, M., Groom, S., Horseman, A., Jackson, T., Krasemann, H., Lavender, S., Martinez-Vicente, V., Mazeran, C., Mélin, F., Moore, T. S., Müller, D., Regner, P., Roy, S., Steele, C. J., Steinmetz, F., Swinton, J., Taberner, M., Thompson, A., Valente, A., Zühlke, M., Brando, V. E., Feng, H., Feldman, G., Franz, B. A., Frouin, R., Gould, R. W., Hooker, S. B., Kahru, M., Kratzer, S., Mitchell, B. G., Muller-Karger, F. E., Sosik, H. M., Voss, K. J., Werdell, J., and Platt, T.: An ocean-colour time series for use in climate studies: The experience of the ocean-colour climate change initiative (OC-CCI), Sensors, 19, 4285, https://doi.org/10.3390/s19194285, 2019 (data available at: https://climate.esa.int/en/projects/ocean-colour/, last access: 28 November 2023).
Shi, W. and Wang, M.: Satellite views of the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, Prog. Oceanogr., 104, 30–45, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2012.05.001, 2012.
Shin, N. Y., Kug, J. S., Stuecker, M. F., Jin, F. F., Timmermann, A., and Kim, G. Il: More frequent central Pacific El Niño and stronger eastern pacific El Niño in a warmer climate, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 5, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00324-9, 2022.
Son, H. Y., Park, J. Y., Kug, J. S., Yoo, J., and Kim, C. H.: Winter precipitation variability over Korean Peninsula associated with ENSO, Clim. Dynam., 42, 3171–3186, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-013-2008-1, 2014.
Tong, Y., Zhao, Y., Zhen, G., Chi, J., Liu, X., Lu, Y., Wang, X., Yao, R., Chen, J., and Zhang, W.: Nutrient Loads Flowing into Coastal Waters from the Main Rivers of China (2006–2012), Sci. Rep., 5, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16678, 2015.
Trenberth, K. E., Large, W. G., and Olson, J. G.: The Mean Annual Cycle in Global Ocean Wind Stress, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 20, 1742–1760, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1990)020<1742:TMACIG>2.0.CO;2, 1990.
Wang, B., Wu, R., and Fu, X.: Pacific-East Asian teleconnection: How does ENSO affect East Asian climate?, J. Climate, 13, 1517–1536, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<1517:PEATHD>2.0.CO;2, 2000.
Wang, B., Wang, X., and Zhan, R.: Nutrient conditions in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 58, 127–136, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7714(03)00067-2, 2003.
Wang, C. Y., Zheng, X. T., and Xie, S. P.: Enhanced ENSO-Unrelated Summer Variability in the Indo–Western Pacific under Global Warming, J. Climate, 36, 1749–1765, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-22-0450.1, 2023.
Wu, Q., Wang, X., He, Y., and Zheng, J.: The Relationship between Chlorophyll Concentration and ENSO Events and Possible Mechanisms off the Changjiang River Estuary, Remote Sens., 15, 2384, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092384, 2023.
Wyrtki, K. and Meyers, G.: The Trade Wind Field Over the Pacific Ocean, J. Appl. Meteorol., 15, 698–704, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1976)015<0698:TTWFOT>2.0.CO;2, 1976.
Xie, S. P., Hu, K., Hafner, J., Tokinaga, H., Du, Y., Huang, G., and Sampe, T.: Indian Ocean capacitor effect on Indo-Western pacific climate during the summer following El Niño, J. Climate, 22, 730–747, https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JCLI2544.1, 2009.
Xie, S. P., Kosaka, Y., Du, Y., Hu, K., Chowdary, J. S., and Huang, G.: Indo-western Pacific ocean capacitor and coherent climate anomalies in post-ENSO summer: A review, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 33, 411–432, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-015-5192-6, 2016.
Xu, Y., Wu, Y., Xiu, P., and Ge, J.: Unraveling environmental drivers of chlorophyll seasonal and interannual variability in the East China Sea, 1–20, 951395, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.951395, 2022.
Yamaguchi, H., Kim, H. C., Son, Y. B., Kim, S. W., Okamura, K., Kiyomoto, Y., and Ishizaka, J.: Seasonal and summer interannual variations of SeaWiFS chlorophyll a in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, Prog. Oceanogr., 105, 22–29, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2012.04.004, 2012.
Yang, K., Cai, W., Huang, G., Hu, K., Ng, B., and Wang, G.: Increased variability of the western Pacific subtropical high under greenhouse warming, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 119, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120335119, 2022.
Yeh, S. W., Kug, J. S., Dewitte, B., Kwon, M. H., Kirtman, B. P., and Jin, F. F.: El Nio in a changing climate, Nature, 461, 511–514, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08316, 2009.
Yuan, Y. and Yang, S.: Impacts of different types of El Niño on the East Asian climate: Focus on ENSO cycles, J. Climate, 25, 7702–7722, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00576.1, 2012.
Zhai, F., Liu, Z., Gu, Y., He, S., Hao, Q., and Li, P.: Satellite-Observed Interannual Variations in Sea Surface Chlorophyll-a Concentration in the Yellow Sea Over the Past Two Decades, J. Geophys. Res.-Ocean., 128, 1–23, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC019528, 2023.
Zhang, J.: Nutrient elements in large Chinese estuaries, Cont. Shelf Res., 16, 1023–1045, https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(95)00055-0, 1996.
Zhang, J., Liu, S. M., Ren, J. L., Wu, Y., and Zhang, G. L.: Nutrient gradients from the eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary to the oligotrophic Kuroshio waters and re-evaluation of budgets for the East China Sea Shelf, Prog. Oceanogr., 74, 449–478, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2007.04.019, 2007.
Zhang, W., Zhuang, X., Chen, C. A., and Huang, T.: The impact of Kuroshio water on the source water of the southeastern Taiwan Strait: numerical results, Acta Oceanol. Sin., 34, 23–34, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-015-0720-x, 2015.
Zhang, Y., Yu, Q., Ma, W., and Chen, L.: Atmospheric deposition of inorganic nitrogen to the eastern China seas and its implications to marine biogeochemistry, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 115, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012814, 2010.
Zhao, L. and Guo, X.: Influence of cross-shelf water transport on nutrients and phytoplankton in the East China Sea: a model study, Ocean Sci., 7, 27–43, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-7-27-2011, 2011.
Short summary
This study investigates the mechanisms driving anomalous phytoplankton blooms in the East China Sea (ECS) during El Niño decaying summers. The findings highlight three key mechanisms: increased river runoff, nutrient transport through the Taiwan Strait, and wind-driven upwelling, all linked to the western North Pacific anticyclone (WNPAC).
This study investigates the mechanisms driving anomalous phytoplankton blooms in the East China...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint