The significance of phytoplankton photo-adaptation and benthic–pelagic coupling to primary production in the South China Sea: Observations and numerical investigations

Sources, distributions, and early diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter in the Pearl River region of the South China Sea

“…As a result, marine OM buried in the SCS sediments presumably accounts for only 0.1-0.2% of primary production (Zhao et al, 2009), which is lower than the estimate (b 1.3%) for global continental margins by Burdige (2005). In addition, the SCS has relatively low primary production (406 mg C m − 2 d −1 ; Liu et al, 2007), implying a high remineralization rate of marine OM before burial. All these factors lead to an apparently low burial efficiency of marine OM in the NSCS sediments.…”

“…In addition, marine OM appears to be the dominant source of amino acids in these NSCS sediments. Previous studies in the South China Sea reported primary production was 406 mg C m −2 d −1 (Liu et al, 2007), and it appears N99% of the carbon is degraded/remineralized before burial in sediments (Zhao et al, 2009). The THAA (%OC) values ranged from 4.9 to 19.4% in NSCS sediments and were in the range (12 ± 10%) reported for ocean margin sediments (Keil et al, 2000), with the highest value obtained at JJW79 (19.4%).…”

Analytical solution of the nitracline with the evolution of subsurface chlorophyll maximum in stratified water columns

“…To make calculation easy, we neglect the term of self-shading by phytoplankton in the calculation because a higher self-shading Liu et al (2007).…”

Seasonal variability of surface phytoplankton in the Northern South China Sea: A one-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical modeling study

“…Although many previous observations and numerical modeling studies have been conducted to examine the basin scale ecosystem dynamics in the SCS (Liu et al, 2002(Liu et al, , 2007Ning et al, 2004;Wong et al, 2007;Lu et al, 2010), we still do not have a quantitative understanding on the seasonal variability and the associated driving mechanisms of surface phytoplankton in the area away from the upwelling regions of the SCS. In present research, a vertical one-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical model has been constructed and utilized.…”

“…They suggested that the phytoplankton bloom was mainly attributed to the winter upwelling occurring there (Shaw and Chao, 1994;Shaw et al, 1996). Using a three dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical model, Liu et al (2002Liu et al ( , 2007 examined the spatial and temporal distributions of chlorophyll-a and primary production under the influence of monsoon winds in the SCS. Their model successfully reproduced the patches of high chlorophyll-a in the upwelling regions both in winter and summer.…”