Articles | Volume 22, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-2503-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-2503-2026
Research article
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17 Aug 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 17 Aug 2026

Chlorophyll a variation trends in marginal seas: assessing the impact of global warming and anthropogenic activities using time-series satellite data (1998–2020)

Nan Yao, Xiaoyu Zhang, Lei Bi, Shuchang Ma, Andrew B. Cundy, Haiyan Jin, and Renyi Liu

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Cited articles

Baker, K. G. and Geider, R. J.: Phytoplankton mortality in a changing thermal seascape, Glob. Change Biol., 27, 5253–5261, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15772, 2021. 
Balaguru, K., Chang, P., Saravanan, R., Leung, L. R., Xu, Z., Li, M., and Hsieh, J.-S.: Ocean barrier layers’ effect on tropical cyclone intensification, P. Natl. Acad. Sci., 109, 14343–14347, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201364109, 2012. 
Behrenfeld, M. J., O'Malley, R. T., Boss, E. S., Westberry, T. K., Graff, J. R., Halsey, K. H., Milligan, A. J., Siegel, D. A., and Brown, M. B.: Revaluating ocean warming impacts on global phytoplankton, Nat. Clim. Change, 6, 323–330, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2838, 2016. 
Boyce, D. G., Lewis, M. R., and Worm, B.: Global phytoplankton decline over the past century, Nature, 466, 591–596, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09268, 2010. 
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Editorial statement
This paper presents a timely and significant refinement to the prevailing narrative that global warming universally suppresses marine phytoplankton biomass. By comparing five marginal seas with contrasting hydrodynamic connectivity and anthropogenic nutrient loads, the authors demonstrate that the Chl‑a response to rising SST is not uniform but varies between open basins and enclosed basins, and varies with terrestrial nutrient retention. The study warns that if warming intensifies and nutrient inputs decline further, the suppressive effect of climate change may encroach upon coastal waters.
Short summary
Analyzing 1998–2020 satellite data, this study finds global warming reduces offshore Chl a in open marginal seas, a trend extending nearshore. In contrast, Chl a in highly polluted enclosed seas remains unaffected by warming, dominated instead by nutrient inputs. Successful environmental policies reducing pollution may inadvertently accelerate the climate-driven Chl a decline, revealing a complex ecological trade-off.
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