Distinct phytoplankton responses to dust in the Chinese marginal seas: role of synoptic circulation and air–sea heat exchange

Hu, Jiehua; Tian, Rong; Yan, Jinpei; Zhang, Xiaoke; Wang, Shanshan; Sun, Heng; Xu, Hanyue; Shen, Shiyu; Zeng, Qisheng

doi:10.5194/bg-23-5697-2026

Articles | Volume 23, issue 16

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5697-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5697-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 23, issue 16

Research article

|

20 Aug 2026

Research article |

| 20 Aug 2026

Distinct phytoplankton responses to dust in the Chinese marginal seas: role of synoptic circulation and air–sea heat exchange

Jiehua Hu, Rong Tian, Jinpei Yan, Xiaoke Zhang, Shanshan Wang, Heng Sun, Hanyue Xu, Shiyu Shen, and Qisheng Zeng

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-5697-2026-supplement

Data sets

tavg1_2d_aer_Nx: MERRA-2 2D, 1-hourly, time-averaged, single-level, assimilation, aerosol diagnostics, version 5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) https://doi.org/10.5067/KLICLTZ8EM9D

OCNET global daily Chlorophyll-a products (Version V6) Zhongkun Hong https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17377256

tavg1_2d_slv_Nx: MERRA-2 2D, 1-hourly, time-averaged, single-level, assimilation, single-level diagnostics, version 5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) https://doi.org/10.5067/VJAFPLI1CSIV

tavg1_2d_rad_Nx: MERRA-2 2D, 1-hourly, time-averaged, single-level, assimilation, radiation diagnostics, version 5.12.4 Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) https://doi.org/10.5067/Q9QMY5PBNV1T

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Short summary

We study the response of Chl a to spring dust variability in the Chinese marginal seas over 2003–2023, revealing contrasting regional responses driven by distinct synoptic circulation patterns. Mongolian cyclones in the north and anticyclones in the south drive opposing air–sea heat flux anomalies and MLD adjustments that regulate Chl a on daily timescales. Our study highlights synoptic-scale atmospheric forcing and air–sea heat exchange as key pathways linking dust to phytoplankton variability.