Seasonal evolution of the Northern Yellow Sea cold water mass

With the in-situ temperature and salinity observations taken seasonally in the Northern Yellow Sea area during the National 908 Water Investigation and Research Project from 2006 to 2007, the characteristics of the Northern Yellow Sea cold water mass （NYSCWM） were studied, including both its spatial pattern over the whole bottom and historically typical section from Dalian to Chengshantou. Seasonal evolution as well as its spatial distribution was analyzed to further understand the NYSCWM, as a result, some new features about the NYSCWM had been found. Compared to the previous studies, the center of colder water mass in summer moved eastward, but sharing the similar peak values for both temperature and salinity with historical data. In spring, the axis of 32.8 psu saltier moves westward approximately 75 km and the high salinity areas beyond 123.5° E were largely impaired comparing to that in winter. In winter, the NYSCWM almost disappeared due to the reinforced wind-induced mixing and the Yellow Sea Warm Currents （YSWC） moved northward and controlled most of the Northern Yellow Sea region. In autumn, two cold centers with the peak value of 9℃ were found inside the attenuated NYSCWM.

Chemicohydrographic characteristics of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

Based on the field data obtained during summer cruises in 2006, the overall perspective of chemical and hydrographic characteristics of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （YSCWM） are discussed through the cross- YSCWM transect profiles and horizontal distributions of hydrological and chemical variables, with emphasis on the differences between the northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （NYSCWM） and the southern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （SYSCWM）. The results show that YSCWM is characterized by low temperature （〈10℃） and dissolved oxygen （DO） concentration, high salinity （〉32.0） and nutrient concentrations. Compared to the SYSCWM, the NYSCWM possesses lower values of temperature, salinity and nutrient concentrations but higher values of DO. Also its smaller variation ranges of variables （except for temperature） demonstrate that NYSCWM is more uniform than that of SYSCWM. In addition, thermocline is more intensive in the SYSCWM than that of NYSCWM. Furthermore, DO and Chl a maxima appear at the depth of 30 m in the SYSCWM, while these phenomena are not obvious in the NYSCWM.

The temporal and spatial variability of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass in the southeastern Yellow Sea, 2009–2011

The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （YSCWM） is one of the important water mass in the Yellow Sea （YS）. It is distributed in the lower layer in the Yellow Sea central trough with the temperature less than 10℃ and the salinity lower than 33.0. To understand the variability of the YSCWM, the hydrographic data obtained in April and August during 2009-2011 are analyzed in the southeastern Yellow Sea. In August 2011, relatively warm and saline water compared with that in 2009 and 2010 was detected in the lower layer in the Yellow Sea central area. Although the typhoon passed before the cruise, the salinity in the Yellow Sea central trough is much higher than the previous season. It means that the saline event cannot be explained by the typhoon but only by the intrusion of saline water during the previous winter. In April 2011, actually, warm and saline water （T 〉 10~C, S 〉34） was observed in the deepest water depth of the southeastern area of the Yellow Sea. The wind data show that the northerly wind in 2011 winter is stronger than in 2009 and 2010 winter season. The strong northerly wind can trigger the intrusion of warm and saline Yellow Sea Warm Current. Therefore, it is proposed that the strong northerly wind in winter season leads to the intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current into the Yellow Sea central trough and influenced a variability of the YSCWM in summer.

Seasonal variations of phytoplankton phosphorus stress in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

The Yellow Sea is located between the China Mainland and the Korean Peninsula, representing a typical shallow epicontinental sea. The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass（YSCWM） is one of the most important physical features in the Yellow Sea. The characteristics of vertical profiles and seasonal variations of biogenic elements in the YSCWM may lead the variations of nutrient availability（e.g., phosphorus） and phosphorus stress of phytoplankton. In this study, the authors surveyed the seasonal variations of phytoplankton phosphorus stress with emphasis on the effect of the YSCWM during the four cruises in April and October 2006, March and August 2007. Using both bulk and single-cell alkaline phosphatase activity（APA） assays, this study evaluated phosphorus status of phytoplankton community, succession of phytoplankton community and ecophysiological responses of phytoplankton to phosphorus in the typical region of the YSCWM. With the occurrence of the YSCWM, especially the variations of concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphorus（DIP）, the results of bulk APA appeared corresponding seasonal variations. Along Transects A and B, the mean APA in August was the highest, and that in March was the lowest. According to the ELF-labeled assay＇s results, seasonal variations of the ELF-labeled percentages within dominant species indicated that diatoms were dominant in March, April and October, while dinoflagellates were dominant in August. During the four cruises, the ELF-labeled percentages of diatoms except Paralia sulcata showed that diatoms were not phosphorus deficient in April 2006 at all, but suffered from severe phosphorus stress in August 2007. In comparison, the ELF-labeled percentages of dinoflagellates were all above 50% during the four time series, which meant dinoflagellates such as Alexandrium and Scrippsiella, sustained perennial phosphorus stress.

Interannual salinity variability of the Northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

This paper discusses the interannual variability of the Northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(NYSCWM) and the factors that influence it,based on survey data from the 1976–2006 national standard section and the Korea Oceanographic Data Center,monthly E-P flux data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts,and meridional wind speed data from the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set. The results show that:1) the mean salinity of the NYSCWM center has a slightly decreasing trend,which is not consistent with the high salinity center; 2) both the southern salinity front and the halocline of the NYSCWM display a weakening trend,which indicates that the difference between the NYSCWM and coastal water decreases; 3) the Yellow Sea Warm Current intrusion,the E-P flux of the northern Yellow Sea,and the strength of the winter monsoon will affect the NYSCWM salinity during the following summer.

A Numerical Study on the Density Driven Circulation in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

The circulation of Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （YSCWM） in the Southern Yellow Sea is investigated using a diagnostic 2D MITgcm model. The resolution of the computational grid is 900 m in the horizontal and 2 m in the vertical where an initial tem- perature distribution corresponding to a typical measured Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass was applied. The existence of YSCWM that causes fluid density difference, is shown to produce counter-rotating cyclonic horizontal eddies in the surface layer： the inner one is anti-cyclonic （clockwise） and relatively weaker （8-10cms-1） while the outer one is cyclonic （anti-clockwise） and much stronger （15-20cms-~）. This result is consistent with the surface pattern observed by Pang et al. （2004）, who has shown that a mesoscale anti-cyclonic eddy （clockwise） exists in the upper layer of central southern Yellow Sea, and a basin-scale cyclonic （anticlockwise） gyre lies outside of the anti-cyclonic eddy, based on the trajectories and drifting velocities of 23 drifters. Below the thermocline, there is an anti-cyclonic （clockwise） circulation. This complex current eddy system is considered to be capable of trapping suspended sediments and depositing them near the front between YSCWM and the coastal waters off the Subei coast, providing an explanation on the sediment depth and size distribution of mud patches in the Southern Yellow Sea. Moreover, sensitive test scenarios indicate that variations of bottom friction do not substantially change the main features of the circulation structure, but will reduce the bottom current velocity, increase the surface current velocity and weaken the upwelling around the frontal area.

Annual variation in Calanus sinicus abundance and population structure in the northern boundary area of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （YSCWM） was suggested as an over-summering site of the dominant copepod species Calanus sinicus in coastal Chinese seas. Population abundance and structure were investigated by monthly sampling along three transects across the northern boundary of the YSCWM during 2009-2010. Results show that thermal stratification existed from June to October and that the vertical thermal difference increased with depth. Generally, total abundance was lowest in October and highest in June, and the female/male sex ratio was highest in February and lowest in August. Evident spatial differences in abundance were observed during the existence of the YSCWM. In June, total abundance averaged 158.8 ind/m~ at well-stratified stations, and 532.1 ind/m3 at other stations. Similarly, high abundances of 322.0 and 324.4 ind/m3 were recorded from July to August inside the YSCWM, while the abundance decreased from 50.4 to 1.9 ind/m3 outside the water mass. C. sinicus distribution tended to even out over the study area in September when the YSCWM disappeared. We believe that the YSCWM may retard population recruitment in spring and preserve abundant cohorts in summer. The summer population was transported to neritic waters in autumn. In addition to low temperatures, stable vertical structure was also an essential condition for preservation of the summer population. C. sinicus can survive the summer in marginal areas in high abundance, but the population structure is completely different in terms of C5 proportion and sex ratio.

Simulation of coupled pelagic-benthic ecosystem of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

A one-dimensional coupled pelagic-benthic box model for the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) is developed. The model is divided into three boxes vertically according to the depths of thermocline and euphotic layer. It simulates well the oligotrophic shelf ecosystem of the YSCWM considering effects of nu- trients deposition and microbial loop. Main features of vertical structure of various variables in ecosystem of the YSCWM were captured and seasonal variability of the ecosystem was well reconstructed. Calculation shows that the contribution of microbial loop to the zooplankton can reach up to 60%. Besides, input of inorganic nutrients from atmospheric deposition is an important mechanism of production in upper layer of the YSCWM when stratified.

Influence of the northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass on picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island,northern Yellow Sea

Picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island（northern Yellow Sea）was investigated by monthly observation from July 2009 to June 2010.Three picoplankton populations were discriminated by flow cytometry,namely Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes.In summer（from July to September）,the edge of the northern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass（NYSCWM）resulting from water column stratification was observed.In the NYSCWM,picoplankton（including Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes）distributed synchronically with extremely high abundance in the thermocline（20 m）in July and August（especially in August）,whereas in the bottom zone of the NYSCWM（below 30 m）,picoplankton abundance was quite low.Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes showed similar response to the NYSCWM,indicating they had similar regulating mechanism under the influence of NYSCWM.Whereas in the non-NYSCWM,Synechococcus,picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic prokaryotes exhibited different distribution patterns,suggesting they had different controlling mechanisms.Statistical analysis indicated that temperature,nutrients（NO3^and PO4^3-）and ciliate were important factors in regulating picoplankton distribution.The results in this study suggested that the physical event NYSCWM,had strong influence on picoplankton distribution around the Zhangzi Island in the northern Yellow Sea.

The sensitivity of numerical simulation to vertical mixing parameterization schemes: a case study for the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

The vertical mixing parameterization scheme,by providing the eff ects of some explicitly missed physical processes and more importantly closing the energy budgets,is a critical model component and therefore imposes signifi cant impacts on model performance.The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(YSCWM),as the most striking and unique phenomenon in the Yellow Sea during summer,is dramatically aff ected by vertical mixing process during its each stage and therefore seriously sensitive to the proper choice of parameterization scheme.In this paper,a hindcast of YSCWM in winter of 2006 was implemented by using the Regional Ocean Modeling System(ROMS).Three popular parameterization schemes,including the level 2.5 Mellor-Yamada closure(M-Y 2.5),Generic Length Scale closure(GLS)and K-Profi le Parameterization(KPP),were tested and compared with each other by conducting a series of sensitivity model experiments.The infl uence of diff erent parameterization schemes on modeling the YSCWM was then carefully examined and assessed based on these model experiments.Although reasonable thermal structure and its seasonal variation were well reproduced by all schemes,considerable diff erences could still be found among all experiments.A warmer and spatially smaller simulation of YSCWM,with very strong thermocline,appeared in M-Y 2.5 experiment,while a spatially larger YSCWM with shallow mixed layer was found in GLS and KPP schemes.Among all the experiments,the discrepancy,indicated by core temperature,appeared since spring,and grew gradually by the end of November.Additional experiments also confi rmed that the increase of background diff usivity could eff ectively weaken the YSCWM,in either strength or coverage.Surface wave,another contributor in upper layer,was found responsible for the shrinkage of YSCWM coverage.The treatment of wave eff ect as an additional turbulence production term in prognostic equation was shown to be more superior to the strategy of directly increasing diff usivity for a coastal region.

Weak coupling between heterotrophic nanoflagellates and bacteria in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass area

A study was carried out to investigate the grazing pressure of heterotrophic nanoflagellates （HNF） on bac-teria assemblages in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （YSCWM） area in October, 2006. The results show that the HNF abundance ranges from 303 to 1388 mL-1, with a mean of 884 mL-1. The HNF biomass is equivalent to 10.6%-115.6% of that of the bacteria. The maximum abundance of the HNF generally occurred in the upper 30 m water layer, with a vertical distribution pattern of surface layer abundance greater than middle layer abundance, then bottom layer abundance. The hydrological data show that the YSCWM is located in the northeastern part of the study area, typically 40 m beneath the surface. A weak correlation is found be- tween the abundances of HNF and bacteria in both the YSCWM and its above water layer. One-way ANOVA analysis reveals that the abundance of HNF and bacteria differs between inside the YSCWM and in the above water mass. The ingestion rates of the HNF on bacteria was 8.02±3.43 h-1 in average. The grazing rate only represented 22.75%±6.91% of bacterial biomass or 6.55%±4.24% of bacterial production, implying that the HNF razinR was not the major factor contributing to the bacterial loss in the YSCWM areas.

Responses of Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass to Typhoon Bolaven

A two-month seabed-mounted observation(YSG1 area) was carried out in the western Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(YSCWM) using an RDI-300 K acoustic Doppler current profiler(ADCP) placed at a water depth of 38 m in late summer, 2012. On August 2012, Typhoon Bolaven passed east of YSG1 with a maximum wind speed of 20 m s-1. The water depth, bottom temperature, and profile current velocities(including u, v and w components) were measured, and the results showed that the typhoon could induce horizontal current with speed greater than 70 cm s-1 in the water column, which is especially rare at below 20 meters above bottom(mab). The deepening velocity shear layer had an intense shear velocity of around 10 cm s-1 m-1, which indicated the deepening of the upper mixed layer. In the upper water column(above 20 mab), westward de-tide current with velocity greater than 30 cm s-1 was generated with the typhoon's onshore surge, and the direction of current movement shifted to become southward. In the lower water column, a possible pattern of eastward compensation current and delayed typhoon-driven current was demonstrated. During the typhoon, bottom temperature variation was changed into diurnal pattern because of the combined influence of typhoon and tidal current. The passage of Bolaven greatly intensified local sediment resuspension in the bottom layer. In addition, low-density particles constituted the suspended particulate matter(SPM) around 10 mab, which may be transported from the central South Yellow Sea by the typhoon. Overall, the intensive external force of the Typhoon Bolaven did not completely destroy the local thermocline, and most re-suspended sediments during the typhoon were restricted within the YSCWM.

Tidal Effects on the Bottom Thermal Front of North Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass near Zhangzi Island in Summer 2009

Three seabed-mounted TD/CTD chains and two upward-looking acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) in the southwest of Zhangzi Island are used and a simultaneous cruise observation in the northern North Yellow Sea (NYS) is conducted to study temperature variation in the bottom thermal front zone of the NYS Cold Water Mass (NYSCWM) during the summer of 2009. In the flood-ebb tidal cycles, the bottom temperature decreases (increases) during flood (ebb) tides, which are dominated by the tidal-current induced horizontal advection. The ebb tide-induced temperature increase is larger than the flood tide-induced tempera- ture decrease due to seasonal warming. In the spring-neap tidal cycles, the temperature and the vertical temperature structure show notable fortnightly variation from 16 July to 25 August. The bottom temperature increases from neap to spring tides and decreases from spring to neap. The Richardson number demonstrates strengthened vertical mixing during spring tides but enhanced stratifica- tion during neap tides. The spring-neap variation in vertical shear caused by tidal current is the dominant factor that induces the fort- nightly variation in vertical mixing and thus bottom temperature.

Seasonal variability of the zooplankton community in the southwest of the Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea) Cold Water Mass

Samples were collected with a plankton net in the four seasonal cruises during 2006-2007 to study the seasonal variability of the zooplankton community in the southwest part of Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass （HSCWM, Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass）. The spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton species composition, biomass, abundance and biodiversity were examined. A total of 122 zooplankton species and 30 pelagic larvae were identified in the four cruises. Calanus sinicus and Aidanosagitta crassa were the most dominant species, and Themisto gaudichaudi and Euphau- sia pacifica were widely distributed in the HSCWM area. The spatial patterns of non-gelatinous zooplankton （removing the high water content groups） were similar to those of the total zooplank- ton biomass in autumn, but different significantly in the other three seasons. The seasonal means of zooplankton biomass in spring and summer were much higher than that in autumn and win- ter. The total zooplankton abundance averaged 283.5 ind./m3 in spring （highest）, 192.5 ind./m3 in summer, 165.5 ind./m3 in autumn and 65.9 ind./m3 in winter （lowest）, and the non-gelatinous groups contributed the most total abundance. Correlation analysis suggests that the non-gelatinous zooplankton biomass and abundance had a significant positive correlation in the whole year, but the relationship was insignificant between the total zooplankton biomass and abundance in spring and summer. The diversity index HI of zooplankton community averaged 1.88 in this study, which was somewhat higher than historical results. Relatively low diversity in summer was related to the high dominance of Calanus sinicus, probably due to the strongest effect of the HSCWM in this season.

Evolution of the Southern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass during the last 7 kyr from benthic foraminiferal evidence

The Southern Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(YSCWM) is closely related to the modern circulation system of the east China shelf seas, which has significantly influenced regional marine environmental changes. The study of the Holocene evolution of the YSCWM will greatly improve our understanding of the mechanisms of regional environmental change. Benthic foraminifera are sensitive to bottom water environmental changes and can serve as useful indicators in bottom water environmental reconstruction. In this study, benthic foraminifera were analyzed in core N02 from the northwestern margin of the southern Yellow Sea Mud to decipher the phase evolution of the YSCWM during the last 7 kyr. Benthic foraminifera census counts and Q-mode factor analysis indicate that the Holocene sedimentary environment can be divided into three stages: From6.9–5.0 ka, the fauna was dominated by Ammonia ketienziensis, indicating that the YSCWM was at its strongest during the last 7 kyr, while the Yellow Sea Coastal Current(YSCC) had a weak influence on the bottom water of the study area. From 5.0–2.9 ka,the relative abundance of Hanzawaia nipponica remarkably increased while the abundance of A. ketienziensis decreased significantly, reflecting that the strength of the YSCWM was relatively weak and the range of the YSCWM might have contracted. The influence of the YSCC on the bottom water might have slightly increased, although its influence was still weak during this time. A notable increase in low-temperature and low-salinity species, such as Protelphidium tuberculatum and Buccella spp. has occurred since 2.9 ka, indicating that the YSCC has had a strong influence on bottom water during this period,while the strength of the YSCWM has been at its weakest during the last 7 kyr. Generally, the influence of the YSCWM and the YSCC on the bottom water properties of the study area show an obvious seesaw pattern, with one's influence increasing while the other's influence decreases and vice versa. The fluctuations in the strength of YSCWM during the Holocene may be caused by the different effect allocations of regional climatic factors(i.e. El Ni?o Southern Oscillation, East Asian Winter Monsoon,summer insolation in the northern hemisphere, etc.) acting on the circulation system during different periods.

The baroclinic circulation structure of Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass

A theoretic solution of one-dimensional heat transfer equation and a numerical simula-tion of 3D baroclinic circulation by MOM2 are investigated to understand the roles of bottom boundary mixing and the Topographic Heat Accumulation Effect (THAE) in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) circulation. Our results show: (i) The time scale of heat transfer changes from days to weeks and from shallow to deep water column. Strong bottom boundary mixing makes the thermocline domed. (ii) The circulation of YSCWM has a two-layer structure. The upper layer is cyclonic, while the lower layer is anticyclonic, and the lower layer is thinner (about 10—20 m) and weaker than the upper layer. The depth-integrated (net) circulation is cyclonic. (iii) The strength of the bottom boundary mixing influences the temperature structures greatly but has less effect on the velocity structure.

Diel vertical migration of the copepod Calanus sinicus before and during formation of the Yellow Sea Cold Bottom Water in the Yellow Sea

To understand the effects of the Yellow Sea Cold Bottom Water （YSCBW） on the diel vertical migration （D- VM） of the copepod Calanus sinicus, we surveyed vertical distribution of C. sinicus at a fixed station in the Yellow Sea before （spring） and during （summer） formation of the YSCBW. Cold water （〈10℃） was observed in the bottom layer when the water column was thermally stratified in summer, but the water column was thermally well-mixed in spring 2010. Samples were collected from five different layers at 3-h intervals using an opening-closing net. Adult females （1-155 ind./m3） showed a clear normal DVM pattern throughout the entire water column in spring, whereas adult males did not migrate. DVM of copepodite V （CV） individuals was not clear, but the maximum abundance of CI-CIV occurred consistently in the upper 10-20 m layer, where there was a high concentration of chlorophyll-a （Chl-a） （0.49-1.19μg/L）. In summer, weak DVM was limited to cold waters beneath the thermocline for adult females （〈30 ind./m3）, but not for adult males. The maximum abundance of CI-CIV also occurred consistently in the subsurface layer （20-40 m） together with high concentrations of Chl-a （0.81-2.36 μg/L）. CV individuals （1-272 ind./m3） moved slightly upward noc- turnally to the near-surface layer （10-20 m）, where the average temperature was 25.74℃, but they were not found in the surface layer （0-10 m; 28.31℃）. These results indicate that the existence of the YSBCW affected food availability at depth and the vertical temperature distribution, leading to variation in the amplitude and shape of stage-specific vertical distributions （CI to adults） in C. sinicus before and during the formation of cold waters in the Yellow Sea during the study period.

The diel vertical migration of the sound-scattering layer in the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water of the southeastern Yellow Sea: focus on its relationship with a temperature structure

Using the hydroacoustic method with a 200 kHz scientific echo sounding system, the diel vertical migration （DVM） of the sound-scatteringlayer （SSL） in the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water （YSBCW） of the southeastern Yellow Sea was studied in April （spring） and August （summer） of 2010 and 2011. For each survey, 13-27 hours of acoustic data were continuously collected at a stationary station. The acoustic volume scattering strength （Sv） data were analyzed with temperature profile data. In the spring of both 2010 and 2011, the SSL clearly showed the vertical migration throughout the entire water column, moving from the surface layer at night to near the bottom during the day. Conductivity, temperature, and depth data indicated that the entire water column was well mixed with low temperature of about 8℃. However, the SSL showed different patterns in the summers of 2010 and 2011. In the summer of 2010 （≈28℃ at the surface）, the SSL migrated to near the bottom during the day, but there were two SSLs above and below the thermocline at depth of 10-30 m at night. In the summer of 2011 （≈20℃ at the surface）, the SSL extended throughout the entire water column at night, possibly owing to an abrupt change in sea weather conditions caused by the passage of a Typhoon Muifa over the study area. It was cancluded that the DVM patterns in summer in the YSBCW area may be greatly influenced by a strengthened or weakened thermocline.

Tidal effects on temperature iront in the Yellow Sea

Temperature front (TF) is one of the important features in the Yellow Sea, which forms in spring,thrives in summer, and fades in autumn as thermocline declines. TF intensity |ST| is defined to describe the distribution of TF. Based on the MASNUM wave-tide-circulation coupled model, temperature distribution in the Yellow Sea was simulated with and without tidal effects. Along 36°N, distribution of TF from the simulated results are compared with the observations, and a quantitative analysis is introduced to evaluate the tidal effects on the forming and maintaining processes of the TF. Tidal mixing and the circulation structure adapting to it are the main causes of the TF.

Tempo-spatial Variation of Nutrient and Chlorophyll-a Concentrations From Summer to Winter in the Zhangzi Island Area (Northern Yellow Sea)

Nutrient and Chlorophyll-a （Chl-a） concentrations were investigated monthly along three transects extending from a mariculturc area to open waters around the Zhangzi Island area from July to December 2009. The objective of this study is to illus- trate food availability to the bottom-sowed scallop Patinopecten yessoensis under the influences of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass （YSCWM）, freshwater input and feedbacks of cultivated scallops. Significant thermal stratification was present in open waters from July to October, and salinity decreased in July and August in surface layers in the mariculture area. Nutrient concentrations increased with depth in both areas in summer, but were similar through water column in November and December. On average, nutrient in- creased from summer to autumn in all components except ammonia. Nutrient concentrations lower than the minimum thresholds for phytoplankton growth were present only in upper layers in summer, but stoichiometric nitrogen limitation existed in the entire inves- tigation period. Column-averaged Chl-a concentration was lower in open waters than in mariculture area in all months. It increased significantly in mariculturc area in August and October, and was less variable in open waters. Our results show that nutrients limita- tion to phytoplankton growth is present mainly in upper layer in association with stratification caused by YSCWM in summer. Freshwater input and upwelling of nutrients accumulated in YSCWM can stimulate phytoplankton production in mariculture area. Farming activities may change stoichiometric nutrient ratios but have less influence on Chl-a concentration.