Behavior of Surface Water with Low Salinity and High Chlorophyll α　Concentration in the Head of Ariake Bay and its Relation to Surface Divergence

Abstract

The characteristic behavior of surface water with low salinity and high chlorophyll a concentration in the head of Ariake Bay, was elucidated by intensive field observations using CTD, drifting buoys, HF radars and satellite images. Such surface water mass has only 1 m thickness and has a different divergence/convergence character from that in the lower layer. Such a divergence/convergence character has a close relation to the chlorophyll a concentration, that is, the high chlorophyll a concentration area coincides with the surface convergence area.