Response of Red Sea phytoplankton biomass to marine heatwaves and cold-spells.

ABSTRACT: In tropical oceans, phytoplankton experience significant alterations during marine heatwaves (MHWs), yet the consequences of reduced or absent marine cold-spells (MCSs) on these microscopic algae are currently overlooked. Synergistically combining in situ measurements, Argo-float data, remotely-sensed observations, and hydrodynamic model outputs, we explore such relationships in the Red Sea. Results show a long-term (1982 to 2018) gradual increase in MHW days (5-20 days/decade) and a clear decrease in MCS days (10-30 days/decade). Compound extreme temperature and chlorophyll-a events (Chl-a - an index of phytoplankton biomass) exhibit consistently lower Chl-a concentrations during MHWs and higher ones during MCSs, particularly in the northern and southern Red Sea. In these regions, during

SUBMITTER: Theodorou I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11814131 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature