Changes in MCSST and Chlorophyll-a Off Sanriku Area (38-43N, 141-l50N) from NOAA/AVHRR and SeaWiFS Data

The purpose of this study is to describe the change of the spring bloom and oceanographic condition. The variation of pigment concentration derived from the satellite ocean color data has been analyzed. According to the movement of blooming area, blooming was very concerned with a rising trend of sea surface temperature and a supply of nutrients. A nutrient rich water carried by the Oyashio encounters with the warm Core ring, where mixings and blooms are observed. We examined the correlation by using the satellite observations of the temperature and chlorophyll-a for the spring seasons (May, June, July) of 1998 the off Sanriku area (38-43N, 141- l50E). Using the SeaWiFS data, we process the data into the level-3, which contains the geophysical value of chlorophyll-a. And chlorophyll-a data is mapped for the water between 110E and 160E, and 15N and 52N with a 0.08 * 0.05 degree grid for each image. And Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data is produced using the AVHRR onboard the NOAA. The SST is derived by the MCSST. Then, the data is mapped for the water as much as chi-a data. And these gridded image was made by detection of each water masses, which are Kuroshio Extension, the warm-core ring and the Oyashlo Intrusion, etc., using those satellite images to determine short term change. Off Sanriku is a place where warm-water pool and the Oyashio at-e mixed. When warm streamer has intruded in cold water, the volume of phytoplankton increases at the tip of warm streamer. Warm water streamer was trigger of occurring blooming. And also, SeaWiFS images provided as much information for the studies of chlorophyll-a concentrations in the surface.