Madden–Julian Oscillation Enhances Phytoplankton Biomass in the Maritime Continent

Abstract

In addition to monsoon-driven rainfall, the Maritime Continent (MC) is subject to heavy precipitation caused by the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), a tropical convection-coupled circulation that propagates eastward from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean. This study shows that riverine runoff from MJO-driven rainfall in the western MC significantly enhances phytoplankton biomass not only in the coastal regions but as far as the nutrient-poor Banda Sea, located 1,000 km downstream of the riverine source. We present observational estimates of the chlorophyll-a concentration in the Banda Sea increasing by 20% over the winter average within an MJO life cycle. The enhancement of phytoplankton in the central Banda Sea is attributed to two coinciding MJO-triggered mechanisms: enhanced sediment loading and eastward advection of waters with high sediment and chlorophyll concentrations. Our results highlight an unexpected effect of MJO-driven rainfall on the downstream oceanic region. This finding has significant implications for the marine food chain and biogeochemical processes in the MC, given the increasing deforestation rate and projections that global warming will intensify both the frequency and strength of MJO-driven rainfall in the MC.

Using cost-effective surveys from platforms of opportunity to assess cetacean occurrence patterns for marine park management in the heart of the Coral Triangle

“…The productivity of the waters around the Indonesian Archipelago, and in particular the Banda Sea, are influenced by large-scale physical processes as well as local factors such as surface wind and rain (Moore et al, 2003). There are a number of complex interactions, and in addition human activities on land, leading to a high input of nutrients, and the change in temperature due to climate change, leading to a more stable stratified layer and less upwelling (Chang et al, 2019). Monitoring of the physical processes, productivity as well as the occurrence of top predators would help to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between these factors in Wakatobi waters.…”

Phytoplankton abundance and diversity in the Northern Banda Sea

“…Overexploitation, sea use change, climate change, pollution and eutrophication cause shift in the distribution of marine biota [9,11]. In deep waters such as the Banda Sea, biological processes are linked to change in the physical environment associated with climate factors [12]. The occurrence of change in the community structure of phytoplankton in marine ecosystem as an impact of climate change [13] and its lead to give influence on marine productivity as well as the blooming of phytoplankton become more frequent, intense, and widespread than ever before especially in the developing areas of the world [14,15] and also Maluku waters [16,17].…”

Put them on the map! : Optimising cetacean conservation management in Indonesia through governance refinement and habitat-use-based spatial planning using complementary methods and underused data

“…While one would, in general, assume that the productivity in the area was high during the summer, it could also be that this was not the case. There are a number of complex interactions, and in addition, human activities on land leading to a high input of nutrients, and the change in temperature due to climate change leading to a more stable stratified layer and less upwelling [478]. Monitoring of the physical processes, productivity as well as the occurrence of top predators would help to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between these factors in Wakatobi waters.…”