Primary production enhancement by typhoon Ketsana in 2003 in western North Pacific

Abstract

The purpose of this works was to investigate temporal and spatial variation of chlorophyll-a concentration and sea surface temperature before and after the typhoon Ketsana passage in subtropical western North Pacific Ocean and to evaluate primary production enhancement by satellite data. Chlorophyll-a concentration kept higher level (>0.1mg/m3) for one month after typhoon Ketsana passage Maximum value of chlorophyll-a concentration was 3.5 mg/m3 that is 70 times more than a normal condition of the area in the seventh day after the passage. Sea surface temperature decreased from 30 to 22 °C. The lowest Sea surface temperature was recorded in Oct. 25 after two days the passage. Time rag was 4 days between Sea surface temperature minimum and chlorophyll-a concentration maximum. Primary production enhancement by the typhoon was estimated 727 Gg Carbon. Carbon fixation by typhoon Ketsana was estimated about 0.11% of western North Pacific's annual new production.