High correlations between Asian dust events and biological productivity in the western North Pacific

Abstract

The relationship between dust events at 11 meteorological stations in China and sediment‐trap fluxes at KNOT (the Kyodo North Pacific Ocean Time‐series station) was investigated during the period December 1997 to April 2000. Al flux, as a good proxy of continental dust, has significant correlations (0.66–0.78) with dust events at a water depth of 924 m. It suggests that the Badain Juran Desert region is a primary source of eolian dust to the western North Pacific. High correlations appeared between the dust events and opal flux, and PD (pennate diatoms) also. This suggests that dust events stimulate biological productivity, providing nutrients via processes such as particle floating, adsorption and co‐precipitation. In addition, evident correlation existed between opal flux at 924 m and GHA (geopotential height anomalies) at 850 hPa level with about a 10‐day time lag. Therefore, it suggests atmospheric cyclone activities might also contribute to ocean productivity.