Potential relationships between atmospheric particulate matter transported by winter monsoons and red tides in the East China Sea

Combining numerical diagnosis from atmospheric science with biogeochemical methods, a model of the potential correlation of monsoons with red tide emergence in the East China Sea is constructed. The model is designed based on an in-depth investigation of the time-space relationship of aerosol and red tide events in the East China Sea from 2005 to 2006, and a continuous monitoring of atmospheric particulates at two stations. The study shows that every red tide event investigated has a close relationship with aerosols coming from the northwest (wind direction in winter) along with subsidence flow. The elemental abundance of total suspended particulate in Hangzhou and Tiantai is different from that of soil background levels, indicating atmospheric particulates there are brought in by winter winds. There is a significant correlation between the content of iron and phosphorous in atmospheric particulates, which mainly exist in binding materials between particulates. In addition, the confined absorption of iron and phosphorous by red tides is related to the intensity of sunlight. These results provide new information regarding the mechanism for the high frequency of red tides in the East China Sea. The results also provide a scientific basis for establishing new pathways for pre-warning and forecasting of red tide disasters.