Topographically driven vigorous vertical mixing supports mesoscale biological production in the Tsugaru Gyre.

ABSTRACT: The Tsugaru Strait is a critical conduit linking the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean and is characterized by a vigorous eastward current. Here, we use high-resolution surface current data acquired from a high-frequency radar system in conjunction with direct turbulence measurements to show that the large increase in chlorophyll-a within a hundred kilometre-scale anticyclonic gyre is driven by the intensification of turbulence, extraordinarily high diffusive nitrate fluxes and divergent flow fields limited to a very narrow area. Enhanced mixing and nutrient fluxes are caused by the presence of a distinct topographic feature-an underwater seamount-within the path of the Tsugaru Strait water flow. Our long-term datasets reveal a positive correlation between recurring submesoscale divergenc

SUBMITTER: Kaneko H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12015478 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature