Satellite-measured seasonal variations in primary production in the scallop-farming region of the Okhotsk Sea

• Published in: ICES Journal of Marine Science
• Main Authors: Mustapha, M. A., Sei-Ichi, S., Lihan, T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2009
• Subjects: okhotsk sea; Sakhalin; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsp142; http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/66/7/1557/29134018/fsp142.pdf

Abstract Mustapha, M. A., Sei-Ichi, S., and Lihan, T. 2009. Satellite-measured seasonal variations in primary production in the scallop-farming region of the Okhotsk Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1557–1569. Seasonal variation in primary production after a retreat of the sea ice in the scallop-farming region along the Hokkaido coast of the Okhotsk Sea (1998–2004) was determined using satellite images. Annual variability in primary production was caused by variability in the physical processes associated with retreat of the sea ice, advection of the Sōya Warm Current (SWC), and intrusion of the East Sakhalin Current (ESC). Variability in primary production resulted in variability in the Chl a concentration, which was also demonstrated with an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Enhancement of Chl a concentration in the frontal area in late spring was demonstrated by the second EOF mode of Chl a concentration (14.2% of variance), in parallel with the generation of a well-developed frontal area resulting from the advection of warm waters of the SWC along the coast in late spring, as indicated by the second EOF mode of sea surface temperature (SST; 1.8% of variance). Elevated Chl a concentration and the presence of cold water of the ESC in late autumn were also highlighted by the third EOF mode of Chl a concentration (9.0% of variance) and SST (1.5% of variance). Prolonged high primary production within the scallop-farming region after spring is supported by the development of a frontal area in summer and strengthening of the ESC in autumn.