The project focused on discerning spatial and temporal variations of marine biological production in the Asia-Pacific marginal seas (the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, and the Gulf of Thailand) utilizing multi-sensor satellite observations and coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model. The research provided a comprehensive understanding on the region-specific differences in the phytoplankton biomass and/or primary production seasonal cycles, as well as the predominant drivers/mechanisms. The result shows that phytoplankton biomass and primary production in the marginal seas of the Asia-Pacific region are sensitive to large scale climatic anomalies both in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. It was also found that phytoplankton biomass and primary production in the Asia-Pacific marginal seas showed decadal trends The project also provided opportunities for the four young scientists involved to improve their own research project and their research capability. Not only to complete their university degree, but also for their future career. In order to expand international networking and/or research collaboration in the near future, international mini-workshop on the western Pacific Ocean and marginal seas biogeochemical variability was held in Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) in February 2014. The discussion during the workshop resulted in a plan to propose Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowships for foreign researchers.
Project • ARCP2012-21NSY-Siswanto