Abstract
Based on the in-depth investigation of the temporal and spatial relationship between aerosols and red tide events in the East China Sea (ECS), a model of the potential correlation between the paths of aerosol input and red tides in the ECS has been suggested. This study shows that red tides are closely related to aerosol events which come from northwest of the sea (winter monsoon direction) and descend to the ECS surface. Two principal paths of aerosol input are established that are relevant to the red tide events in the ECS. The first path contains aerosols from the northwest that are usually related to the red tide events covering an area of more than 1,000 km2. A second path is characterized by aerosols that first move from the northwest to east and then to south, finally settling in the red tide areas in the ECS. These aerosol paths are usually related to the red tide events that cover a smaller area, except in cases where stopover and follow-up re-supply of these aerosols may result in larger red tide events. The aerosols from southeast and southwest are not related with red tide events in the ECS. Downward vertical air currents play a key role in the relationship between ECS red tides and aerosol events. Without downdraughts, aerosols will have nothing to do with the red tide events. The study provides new information for discovering the occurrence mechanism of red tides in the ECS and essential parameters for red tide prediction and early warning.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abram NJ, Gagan MK, McCulloch MT, Chappell J, Hantoro WS (2003) Coral reef death during the 1997 Indian Ocean dipole linked to Indonesian Wildfires. Science 301:952–955
Alfredo MC, Antoni RM, Samuel LJ, Walter G, Daniel MS, Gerald HH (2011) Southern Ocean dust–climate coupling over the past four million years. Nature 476:311–316
Baker AR, French M, Linge KL (2006a) Trends in aerosol nutrient solubility along a west-east transect of the Saharan dust plume. Geophys Res Lett 33(7):L07805. doi:10.1029/2005GL024764
Baker AR, Jickells TD, Witt M, Linge KL (2006b) Trends in the solubility of iron, aluminium, manganese and phosphorus in aerosol collected over the Atlantic Ocean. Mar Chem 98:43–58
Baker AR, Jickells TD, Biswas KF, Weston K, French M (2006c) Nutrients in atmospheric aerosol particles along the Atlantic Meridional Transect. Deep Sea Res II Top Stud Oceanogr 53:1706–1719
Bates TS, Huebert BJ, Gras JL, Griffiths FB, Durkee PA (1998) International global atmospheric chemistry (IGAC) project’s first aerosol characterization experiment (ACE1): overview. J Geophys Res 103:16297–16318
Bishop JKB, Davis RE, Sherman JT (2002) Robotic observations of dust storm enhancement of carbon biomass in the North Pacific. Science 298:817–821
Boyd PW, Wong CS, Merrill J, Whitney F, Snow J, Harrison PJ, Gower J (1998) Atmospheric iron supply and enhanced vertical carbon flux in the NE subarctic Pacific: is there a connection? Global Biogeochem Cyles 12(3):429–441
Boyd PW, Watson AJ, Law CS, Abraham ER, Trull T, Murdoch R, Bakker DCE, Bowie AR (2000) A mesoscale phytoplankton bloom in the polar Southern Ocean stimulated by iron fertilization. Nature 407:695–701
Bradley DE, Mckee LJ (2002) Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus budgets for a shallow subtropical coastal embayment (Moreton May, Australia). Limnol Oceanogr 47:1043–1055
Cao Y, Li DJ, Zhang J (2002) Progress in the research of iron limitation to marine phytoplankton. Mar Sci Bull (in Chinese) 21:83–88
Chen Y, Zhuang GS, Guo ZG (2010) Atmospheric deposition of nutrients and trace elements to the Coastal Oceans: a review (in Chinese). Adv Earth Sci 25(7):682–690
Christian JR, Verschell MA, Murtugudde R, Busalacchi AJ (2002) Biogeochemical modeling of the tropical Pacific Ocean II: iron biogeochemistry. Deep Sea Res II Top Stud Oceanogr 49(1–3):545–565
Coale KH, Johnson KS, Fitgwater SE, Gordon RM, Tanner S, Chavez FP, Ferioli L, Sakamoto C et al (1996) A massive phytoplankton bloom induced by an ecosystem-scale iron fertilization experiment in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Nature 383:495–501
Cropp RA, Gabric AJ, McTainsh GH, Braddock RD, Tindale N (2005) Coupling between ocean biota and atmospheric aerosols: dust dimethylsulphide, or artifact? Global Biogeochem Cycles 19:1–13
Dalton R (2002) Squaring up over ancient life. Nature 417:782–784
Draxler RR, Hess GD (1998) An overview of the HYSPLIT_4 modeling system for trajectories, dispersion and deposition. Aust Meteor Mag 47:295–308
Duarte CM, Dachs J, Llabres M, Alonso-Laita P, Gasol JM, Tovar-Sánchez A, Sañudo-Wilhemy S, Agustí S (2006) Aerosol inputs enhance new production in the subtropical northeast Atlantic. J Geophys Res 111(11):1–8
Gabric AJ, Cropp R, Ayers GP, McTainsh G, Braddock R (2002) Coupling between cycles of phytoplankton biomass and aerosol optical depth as derived from SeaWiFs time series in the Subantarctic Southern Ocean. Geophys Res Lett 29(7):1112–1146
Gabric AJ, Shephard JM, Knight JM, Jones G, Trevena AJ (2005) Correlations between the satellite-derived seasonal cycles of phytoplankton biomass and aerosol optical depth in the southern Ocean: evidence for the influence of sea ice. Global Biogeochem Cycles 19:1–10
GEOHAB (2001) Global ecology and oceanography of harmful algal blooms: science plan. In: Glibert PM, Pitcher G (eds) SCOR, IOC. Baltimore and Parts, p 86
Gervais F, Riebesell U, Gorbunov MY (2002) Changes in primary productivity and chlorophyll a in response to iron fertilization in the Southern Polar Frontal Zone. Limnol Oceanogr 47:1324–1335
Gray JS, Calamari D, Duce R, Portmann JE, Wells PG (1991) Scientifically based strategies for marine environment al protection and management. Mar Pollut Bull 22(9):4320–4440
Hua ZA (1994) Red tide disaster. China Ocean Press (in Chinese), Beijing, p 4320
Huo WY, Yu ZM, Zou JZ, Song XX, Huao JH (2001) Outbreak of Skeletonema costatum red tide and its relations to environment factors in Jiaozhou bay. Oceanol Limnol Sin (in Chinese) 32:311–318
Jickells TD, An ZS, Andersen KK, Baker AR, Bergametti G, Brooks N, Cao JJ, Boyd PW et al (2005) Global iron connections between desert dust, ocean biogeochemistry, and climate. Science 208:67–71
Martin JH (1990) Glacial-interglacial CO2 change: the iron hypothesis. Paleoceanography 5(1):1–13
Martin JH, Fitzwater SE (1988) Iron deficiency limits phytoplankton growth in the northeast pacific subarctic. Nature 331:341–343
Martin JH, Gordon RM (1988) Northeast Pacific iron distributions in relation to phytoplankton productivity. Deep Sea Res 35(2):177–196
Martin JH, Coale KH, Johnson KS, Fitzwater SE, Gordon RM, Tanner SJ, Hunter CN, Elrod VA et al (1994) Testing the iron hypothesis in ecosystems of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Nature 371:123–129
Moore JK, Doney SC, Kleypas JA, Glover DM, Fung IY (2002) An intermediate complexity marine ecosystem model for the global domain. Deep Sea Res II Top Stud Oceanogr 49(1–3):403–462
Nakamura T, Matsumoto K, Uematsu M (2005) Chemical characteristics of aerosols transported from Asia to the East China Sea: an evaluation of anthropogenic combined nitrogen deposition in autumn. Atmos Environ 39(9):1749–1758
Paerl HW (1997) Coastal eutrophication and harmful algal blooms: importance of atmospheric deposition and groundwater as “new” nitrogen and other nutrient sources. Limnol Oceanogr 42:1154–1165
Paerl HW, Dennis RL, Whitall (2002) Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen: implications for nutrient over-enrichment of coastal waters. Estuaries 25(4B):677–693
Prospero JM, Caralon TN (1972) Vertical and areal distribution of Saharan dust over the western equatorial North Atlantic Ocean. J Geophys Res 77:52552–55265
Qi YZ (2003) Red tides in Coastal China Sea. Science Press (in Chinese), Beijing, p 356
Qu B, Lu HL, Gabric AJ, Lin DR, Qian F, Zhao WH (2011) Using modis satellite data to analyse the relationship between chlorophyll a and aerosol optical depth in the Greenland sea (in Chinese). Chin J Polar Res 23(1):68–76
Rosalba AR, Fedrieopacz O, Roberto CA (2000) Trophic conditions and stoichiometric nutrient balance in subtropical waters influenced by municipal sewage effluents in Mazatlán Bay (SE Gulf of California). Mar Pollut Bull 40:331–339
Su JL (2001) Harmful algal bloom and its research in China. Bull Chin Acad Sci (in Chinese) 5:339–342
Sun PJ, Li RX, Xu ZJ, Zhu MY, Shi JH (2009) Effects of Asian dusts on the growth of three species of micro algae (in Chinese). Adv Mar Sci 27(1):59–65
Thayer GW (1974) Identity and regulation of nutrients limiting phytoplankton production in shallow estuaries near Beaufort, North Carolina. Oecologia 14:75–92
Tian RX (2005) Relationship between East Asian summer monsoon and the harmful algal bloom over East China Sea. J Zhejiang Univ (Science Edition) (in Chinese) 32:355–360
Tsuda A, Takeda S, Saito H, Nishioka J, Nojiri Y, Kudo I, Kiyosawa H, Shiomoto A et al (2003) A mesoscale iron enrichment in the Western Subarctic Pacific induces a large centric diatom bloom. Science 300(9):958–961
Walsh JJ, Steidinger KA (2001) Saharan dust and Florida red tides: the Cyanophyte connection. J Geophys Res 106(C6):11597–11612
Wang P (2008) Study on environmental geochemistry of heavy metals in sediments of Changjiang estuary and adjacent area. Master’s Thesis, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
Weng HX, Sun XW, Chen JF, Qin YC (2006) Iron and phosphorus limitation and their synergy to the growth of Procentrum micans Ehrenberg and Cryptomonas sp. Progr Nat Sci (in Chinese) 16:705–711
Weng HX, Tian RX, Ji ZQ, Yu XA (2011) Potential relationships between atmospheric particulate matter transported by winter monsoons and red tides in the East China Sea. Chin Sci Bull 56:297–305
Wolff GT, Ruthkosky MS, Stroup DP, Korsog PE, Ferman MA (1986) Measurements of SOx, NOx, and aerosol species on Bermuda. Atmos Environ 20(6):1229–1239
Wu RS (1991) Principles of modern synoptic meteorology. Higher Education Press (in Chinese), Beijing, p 300
Ye SF, Ji HH, Cao LL, Huang XQ (2004) Red tides in the Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent sea areas: causes and mitigation. Mar Sci (in Chinese) 28:26–32
Zhang J (1994) Atmospheric wet deposition of nutrient elements: correlation with harmful biological blooms in northwest Pacific Coastal Zones. Ambio 23(8):173–189
Zhang JH, Xia X, Liu XQ, Wang MC (2002) Progress and prospect on red tide research. Environ Monit China (in Chinese) 18:20–26
Zhang J, Zou L, Wu Y, Lin YA (2004a) Atmospheric wet deposition and changes in phytoplankton biomass in the surface ocean. Geophys Res Lett 31:1–4
Zhang J, Yu ZG, Raabe T, Liu SM, Starke A, Zou L, Gao HW, Brockmannc U (2004b) Dynamics of inorganic nutrient species in the Bohai seawaters. J Mar Syst 44(3/4):189–212
Zou L, Chen HT, Zhang J (2000) Experimental examination of the effects of atmospheric wet deposition on primary production in the Yellow Sea. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 249:111–121
Acknowledgments
This research has been supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Nature Science Foundation of China (No. J20100343) and open foundation from State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tian, R., An, J. Relationship between aerosol transport routes and red tide occurrences in the East China Sea. Environ Earth Sci 69, 1499–1508 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1984-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1984-5