Detecting the Phytoplankton Bloom From Satellite Images

Phytoplankton is the base of the marine food web. However, the phytoplankton bloom may deplete the dissolved oxygen and shade aquatic life, and even damages the marine environment. In this study, the satellite-derived sea surface chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature (SST) are considered to examine the behavior of the phytoplankton bloom in the sea around the western side of the Luzon Strait in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS). Meanwhile, the related sea surface wind (SSW) is also included to understand the possible mechanism to induce the high Chl-a plume around there. The results indicate that the clear high Chl-a water is mainly around the northeastern SCS in winter, and spreads out westward from the northern edge of the Luzon island, Philippines. The external force of this blooming is probably from monsoon wind driving, the strong and diverse winter monsoon in the Luzon Strait can develop a very clear positive wind stress curl in the northwestern side of Luzon island, and then induce the cold and high nutrient water upward. Meanwhile, the strong winter monsoon can also spread this cold water plume out to develop a very clear and large phytoplankton blooming around there.