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Mesoscale eddy effects on temporal variability of surface chlorophyll a in the Kuroshio Extension

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Abstract

We investigated the relationship between chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations estimated from satellite observations and the activity of eddies in the Kuroshio Extension region. High (low) area-averaged Chl-a concentrations were frequently observed in the core of cyclonic (anticyclonic) eddies. Such relationships between Chl-a concentrations and eddy cores were not frequently observed in the southern part of the recirculation gyre, and advection of background meridional gradient of Chl-a by eddy-edge currents accounted for Chl-a spatial variability. Decadal-scale changes of Chl-a concentrations around the Kuroshio Extension were strongly affected by eddy activity and transport but not by large-scale near-surface isopycnal heaving. We also found that decadal changes of nutrient concentrations near the main stream could affect Chl-a concentrations in the southern part of the recirculation gyre via southward transport of eddies and mean flow.

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Acknowledgments

S. Kouketsu, S. Itoh, T. Okunishi, and H. Kaneko were supported for this study by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas Grant Number 12024485. We thank the reviewers and the editor for their useful comments. We extend our appreciation to the late Dr. Toshiro Saino for his encouragement to undertake this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, 237-0061, Japan

    Shinya Kouketsu, Kosei Sasaoka & Ryuichiro Inoue

  2. Center for Earth Surface System Dynamics, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan

    Hitoshi Kaneko & Sachihiko Itoh

  3. Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute, FRA, 3-27-5 Shinhama-cho, Shiogama, Miyagi, 985-0001, Japan

    Takeshi Okunishi

  4. Faculty of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University, N10 W5 Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan

    Hiromichi Ueno

Authors
  1. Shinya Kouketsu
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  2. Hitoshi Kaneko
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  3. Takeshi Okunishi
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  4. Kosei Sasaoka
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  5. Sachihiko Itoh
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  6. Ryuichiro Inoue
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  7. Hiromichi Ueno
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Correspondence to Shinya Kouketsu.

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Kouketsu, S., Kaneko, H., Okunishi, T. et al. Mesoscale eddy effects on temporal variability of surface chlorophyll a in the Kuroshio Extension. J Oceanogr 72, 439–451 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-015-0286-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-015-0286-4

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