Improved Understanding of Typhoon-Induced Immediate Chlorophyll-A Response Using Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) Onboard Himawari-8

Abstract

The biological response triggered by a tropical cyclone (TC) passage has attracted much attention due to its possible impacts on regional oceanic, ecological environment, and regional climate balance. However, the detailed progress of TC-induced chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) responses (TICRs) remains unclear due to the inherent limitation of observations in ocean color with polar-orbiting satellites as used in previous studies. The appearance of the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) onboard the Himawari-8 geostationary satellite opens the opportunity of correcting all our understanding of TICRs due to its hyper temporal image acquisition capability. In this study, the more real relationship between Chl-a response and TC is further clarified. Results show an essentially different reacting progress of TICRs given by AHI/Himawari-8. It shows a much quicker response relative to previous understanding. Chl-a concentrations reached the highest value on the first day under the severe influences of typhoons. The averaged Chl-a response (0–3 days behind TC passage) observed by AHI is approximately three (2.95) times stronger than that observed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer onboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Terra/Aqua satellites. The spatial characteristics of TICRs by AHI show marked differences. Overall, the rapid and strong response sheds new light on the role of TICRs in influencing the regional oceanic environment, marine ecosystem, and local climate. Whole new estimations for the impacts of TICRs on the aforementioned issues are needed urgently.

Keywords

• tropical cyclone
• chlorophyll-a
• Himawari-8
• MODIS
• western North Pacific