Enhanced biological activity by an anticyclonic warm eddy during early spring in the East Sea (Japan Sea) detected by the geostationary ocean color satellite

Monthly measured primary and new productivities in the Ulleung Basin as a biological "hot spot" in the East/Japan Sea

“…In contrast, Onitsuka et al (2007) reported that the nutrient supply from the Tsushima Current through the western channel of the Tsushima/Korea Strait is the main source for the high primary production in the southwestern part of the EJS. Recent studies reported an ecologically important role of warm eddies in the UB Lim et al, 2012). Kim et al (2012) found that high chlorophyll a concentrations were enhanced by eddy-induced upwelling nutrients in the UB during the summer season with a nutrient-depleted condition in the euphotic zone.…”

“…Kim et al (2012) found that high chlorophyll a concentrations were enhanced by eddy-induced upwelling nutrients in the UB during the summer season with a nutrient-depleted condition in the euphotic zone. In addition, Lim et al (2012) found high early spring primary production enhanced by anticyclonic eddies, using the first Korean Geostationary Ocean Colour Imager (GOCI). A physical upward water flux movement at the periphery of the anticyclonic eddies could keep the phytoplankton in the euphotic zone to sustain high productivity in the UB, even when the stratification for a seasonal spring bloom is not well developed in the water column during early spring (Lim et al, 2012).…”

“…the UB) of the EJS is related to coastal upwelling (Hyun et al, 2009;Yoo and Park, 2009) and eddies (Hyun et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2012;Lim et al, 2012). Recently, Kwak et al (2013) proposed that high phytoplankton productivity in the EJS is supported by nutrient supplies from the underlying water, which is facilitated by the hydrographic conditions.…”

Summer primary productivity and phytoplankton community composition driven by different hydrographic structures in the East/Japan Sea and the Western Subarctic Pacific

“…A few hypotheses have been suggested as the main cause of the high primary productivity in the UB. These include physical processes such as coastal upwelling and mesoscale eddies [Hyun et al, 2009;Yoo and Park, 2009;Kim et al, 2012;Lim et al, 2012]. A recent study that compared summer primary productivity in the UB with that in the subtropical western Pacific and the East China Sea suggested that the relatively high rates of primary productivity in the UB is supported by increased nitrate (NO 3 ) supply from nutrient-rich deeper waters to the euphotic zone because of the shallow pycnocline in summer [Kwak et al, 2013a].…”

Biogeochemistry and ecosystems of continental margins in the western North Pacific Ocean and their interactions and responses to external forcing – an overview and synthesis

“…The maintenance of high primary production in the Ulleung Basin of the JES has been explained by wind-driven coastal upwelling (Hyun et al, 2009;Yoo and Park, 2009), mesoscale eddies, which are often associated with the branch currents of the Kuroshio (Hyun et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2012;Lim et al, 2012), and hydrographic conditions (Kwak et al, 2013a). Kwak et al (2013b) measured the primary and new productivities in the UB throughout a year.…”