“…It occurs typically early in the year and then spreads eastward for the next weeks, creating a feature called a plankton wave (Srokosz, 2004). This feature is one of the largest phytoplankton blooms in the world ocean, and has received much attention in the recent years (e.g., Huhn, von Kameke, Pérez-Muñuzuri, Olascoaga, & Beron-Vera, 2012;Lévy et al, 2007;Longhurst, 2001;Raj, Peter, & Pushpadas, 2010;Srokosz, 2004;Srokosz & Quartly, 2013;Uz, 2007). Interannual variability of this phytoplankton bloom is linked to the upwelling along the south coast of Madagascar, precipitation along the east coast of Madagascar, light limitation and local mesoscale circulation features (Raj et al, 2010).…”