Amplifying effects of multiyear La Niña on phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific

Lei Lin; Kun Xu; Wei Tan; Jinliang Liu; Bingzhang Chen; Dongyan Liu

doi:10.1002/lol2.70143

Amplifying effects of multiyear La Niña on phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific

Lei Lin^*
, Kun Xu
, Wei Tan^*
, Jinliang Liu
, Bingzhang Chen
, Dongyan Liu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (School of Marine Sciences)

Shandong University of Science and Technology
East China Normal University
Coastal Carolina University
University of Strathclyde
Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

Abstract

Traditional views suggest that overall phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific should be proportional to La Niña intensity because of enhanced nutrient supplies from equatorial upwelling associated with La Niña intensity. Here, composite analysis of satellite-derived chlorophyll a (Chl a, a proxy for biomass) data across five multiyear La Niña (M-LN) events (1997–2023) showed a double increase in the tropical Pacific average Chl a in the 2^nd/3^rd years [La Niña(2)] of M-LN compared to the 1^st year [La Niña(1)], despite declining La Niña intensities. This unexpected rise is attributed to a ∼ 1-yr lagged response of the off-equatorial phytoplankton to La Niña/El Niño. The lagged response of off-equatorial Chl a to La Niña(1) superimposed with the immediate response of equatorial Chl a to La Niña(2) amplifies overall Chl a levels during La Niña(2). Simulations from Earth System Models support this mechanism. Our findings imply that increased M-LN events may mitigate warming-induced biomass decline in the tropical Pacific.

Original language	English
Article number	e70143
Journal	Limnology and Oceanography Letters
Volume	11
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.70143
State	Published - May 2026

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title = "Amplifying effects of multiyear La Ni{\~n}a on phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific",

abstract = "Traditional views suggest that overall phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific should be proportional to La Ni{\~n}a intensity because of enhanced nutrient supplies from equatorial upwelling associated with La Ni{\~n}a intensity. Here, composite analysis of satellite-derived chlorophyll a (Chl a, a proxy for biomass) data across five multiyear La Ni{\~n}a (M-LN) events (1997{\textendash}2023) showed a double increase in the tropical Pacific average Chl a in the 2nd/3rd years [La Ni{\~n}a(2)] of M-LN compared to the 1st year [La Ni{\~n}a(1)], despite declining La Ni{\~n}a intensities. This unexpected rise is attributed to a ∼ 1-yr lagged response of the off-equatorial phytoplankton to La Ni{\~n}a/El Ni{\~n}o. The lagged response of off-equatorial Chl a to La Ni{\~n}a(1) superimposed with the immediate response of equatorial Chl a to La Ni{\~n}a(2) amplifies overall Chl a levels during La Ni{\~n}a(2). Simulations from Earth System Models support this mechanism. Our findings imply that increased M-LN events may mitigate warming-induced biomass decline in the tropical Pacific.",

author = "Lei Lin and Kun Xu and Wei Tan and Jinliang Liu and Bingzhang Chen and Dongyan Liu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 The Author(s). Limnology and Oceanography Letters published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography.",

year = "2026",

month = may,

doi = "10.1002/lol2.70143",

language = "英语",

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journal = "Limnology and Oceanography Letters",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Amplifying effects of multiyear La Niña on phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific

AU - Lin, Lei

AU - Xu, Kun

AU - Tan, Wei

AU - Liu, Jinliang

AU - Chen, Bingzhang

AU - Liu, Dongyan

PY - 2026/5

Y1 - 2026/5

N2 - Traditional views suggest that overall phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific should be proportional to La Niña intensity because of enhanced nutrient supplies from equatorial upwelling associated with La Niña intensity. Here, composite analysis of satellite-derived chlorophyll a (Chl a, a proxy for biomass) data across five multiyear La Niña (M-LN) events (1997–2023) showed a double increase in the tropical Pacific average Chl a in the 2nd/3rd years [La Niña(2)] of M-LN compared to the 1st year [La Niña(1)], despite declining La Niña intensities. This unexpected rise is attributed to a ∼ 1-yr lagged response of the off-equatorial phytoplankton to La Niña/El Niño. The lagged response of off-equatorial Chl a to La Niña(1) superimposed with the immediate response of equatorial Chl a to La Niña(2) amplifies overall Chl a levels during La Niña(2). Simulations from Earth System Models support this mechanism. Our findings imply that increased M-LN events may mitigate warming-induced biomass decline in the tropical Pacific.

AB - Traditional views suggest that overall phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific should be proportional to La Niña intensity because of enhanced nutrient supplies from equatorial upwelling associated with La Niña intensity. Here, composite analysis of satellite-derived chlorophyll a (Chl a, a proxy for biomass) data across five multiyear La Niña (M-LN) events (1997–2023) showed a double increase in the tropical Pacific average Chl a in the 2nd/3rd years [La Niña(2)] of M-LN compared to the 1st year [La Niña(1)], despite declining La Niña intensities. This unexpected rise is attributed to a ∼ 1-yr lagged response of the off-equatorial phytoplankton to La Niña/El Niño. The lagged response of off-equatorial Chl a to La Niña(1) superimposed with the immediate response of equatorial Chl a to La Niña(2) amplifies overall Chl a levels during La Niña(2). Simulations from Earth System Models support this mechanism. Our findings imply that increased M-LN events may mitigate warming-induced biomass decline in the tropical Pacific.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039571756

U2 - 10.1002/lol2.70143

DO - 10.1002/lol2.70143

M3 - 快报

AN - SCOPUS:105039571756

SN - 2378-2242

VL - 11

JO - Limnology and Oceanography Letters

JF - Limnology and Oceanography Letters

IS - 3

M1 - e70143

ER -

Amplifying effects of multiyear La Niña on phytoplankton biomass in the tropical Pacific

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