Articles | Volume 22, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-2503-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-2503-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Chlorophyll a variation trends in marginal seas: assessing the impact of global warming and anthropogenic activities using time-series satellite data (1998–2020)
School of Earth Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Ocean Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Xiaoyu Zhang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Earth Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Ocean Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China
School of Earth Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Ocean Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Shuchang Ma
School of Earth Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Ocean Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Andrew B. Cundy
GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
Haiyan Jin
State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Baochubei Road 36, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
Renyi Liu
School of Earth Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Ocean Sensing, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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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.
This paper presents a timely and significant refinement to the prevailing narrative that global...
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.
Analyzing 1998–2020 satellite data, this study finds global warming reduces offshore Chl a in...