An analysis on the formation mechanism of the distribution of high content of chlorophyll-a in the continental shelf edge waters of East China Sea

On the basis of the data obtained from the comprehensive Kuroshio surveys in 1987-1988,this paper analyses the oceanographic characteristics in the area (125°-130°E,27°-31°N) of the continental shelf edge of the East China Sea (E.C.S.) and its adjacent waters and discusses the effects of the Kuroshio front,thermocline and upwelling of the Kuroshio subsurface water on the distribution of standing stock of phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a).The distribution of high content of chlorophylly-a has been detected at 20-50 in depth in the water body on the left side of the Kuroshio front in the continental shelf edge waters of the E.C.S.The high content of chlorophyll-a spreads from the shelf area to the Kuroshio area in the form of a tongue and connects with the maximum layer of subsurface chlorophyll-a of the Kuroshio and pelagic sea.The author considers that the formation of the distribution of high content chlorophyll-a in this area results from the bottom topography and oceanic environment and there ate close oorrelations between the high content of chlorophyll-a and the light-nutrient environment.