Ocean’s largest chlorophyll-rich tongue is extending westward (2002–2022)

Shuaixing Peng, Xiaolong Yu, Zhongping Lee, Hongyang Lin, Xin Liu, Minhan Dai and Shaoling Shang ()
Additional contact information
Shuaixing Peng: Xiamen University
Xiaolong Yu: Xiamen University
Zhongping Lee: Xiamen University
Hongyang Lin: Xiamen University
Xin Liu: Xiamen University
Minhan Dai: Xiamen University
Shaoling Shang: Xiamen University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Upwelling in the Equatorial Pacific nurtures an expansive, westward-stretching chlorophyll-rich tongue (CRT), supporting 18% of the annual global new production. Surrounding the CRT are the oligotrophic subtropical gyres to the north and south, which are suggested to be expanding under global warming. Yet, how this productive CRT has changed, expanding or contracting, remains unknown. By applying the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method to 20-year monthly measurements of chlorophyll-a concentration from MODIS-Aqua satellite (2002-2022), we demonstrate that the CRT exhibited a significant westward extension, at an average expanding rate of 1.87 ( ± 0.82) × 105 km2/yr. The westward extension of the CRT is attributed to strengthened equatorial upwelling and a strengthened South Equatorial Current from 2002 to 2022, driven by intensified easterly trade winds as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation predominantly remains in its negative phase during this period. Interestingly, EMD analysis on central locations of the Pacific gyres suggested simultaneous extension of the gyres and the CRT during 2002-2022, with the gyres extending poleward. Our findings imply a broader cover of productive water along the equator, while its impact on tropical climate, ecosystems, and carbon cycle deserves further investigation.

Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55650-8 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55650-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55650-8

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().