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A tropical cyclone-induced and satellite-detected chlorophyll a elevation accompanied by phytoplankton biomass decrease

delete2025-12-02
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OA
AI
L
Lin Deng
S
Siyu Chen
X
X. Zeng
J
Jian Wang
R
Rongwang Zhang *
J
Jun Zhao *
DOI:10.1088/1748-9326/ae21f3delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Satellite observations have traditionally associated tropical cyclones (TCs) with phytoplankton blooms through elevated chlorophyll-a (Chla) concentrations, yet this relationship masks complex underlying ecological processes. Through a integration of satellite data and in-situ bio-optical measurements, we reveal a counterintuitive ecological response to TC ‘Chaba’ in 2022 that challenges conventional understanding. While satellite-detected Chla concentrations increased and phytoplankton division rates accelerated following TC passage, we surprisingly documented simultaneous declines in phytoplankton biomass and carbon-to-chlorophyll (C:Chl) ratios. Our analysis demonstrates that physiological regulation, rather than biomass accumulation, dominated high-Chla zones during and after TC disturbance, with C:Chl anomalies contributing over 60% to elevated Chla areas. This research presents a paradigm-shifting scenario: phytoplankton biomass began accumulating initiated pre-TC, yet increased loss rates during/after TC actually reduced phytoplankton biomass despite enhanced division rates. The fundamental decoupling between TC-induced Chla enhancement and phytoplankton biomass dynamics we document has profound implications for oceanic carbon cycling models and climate predictions, necessitating a recalibration of how we interpret satellite Chla signals in storm-affected marine ecosystems.

Journal

Environmental Research Letters cover
Environmental Research Letters
IF:
5.6
Papers:
9.5K
Citations:
5.0W

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