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Distribution of the subsurface chlorophyll maximum and its nutrient-light environment in and around the Euroshio off Japan

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Abstract

Continuous distribution of the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) was confirmed in the Kuroshio and neighbouring areas in observations at 15 to 40 km intervals. Chlorophyll amounts occurring in and immediately around the SCM constituted 60 to 80% of the total chlorophyll in the water column above the 1% light level. The SCM zone received 1 to 10% of the surface irradiance at its center and contained sufficient macronutrients to support approximately one doubling of the existing phytoplankton biomass at most stations. There were several stations where there were higher nutrient concentrations that would support more than one doubling of the existing biomass around the SCM zone, and this was interpreted as resulting from uplift of the SCM zone due to upwelling.

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Takahashi, M., Nakai, T., Ishimaru, T. et al. Distribution of the subsurface chlorophyll maximum and its nutrient-light environment in and around the Euroshio off Japan. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 41, 73–80 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02109176

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02109176

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