Atmospheric transport of nutrients during a harmful algal bloom event

A large-scale, mixed Prorocentrum dentatum Stein and Skeletonema costatum bloom developed in the coastal waters of Zhejiang province, China (Zhoushan city and Liuheng Island) from May 3 to 8, 2006. We used the Global Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System (GNAQPMS) to show that nutrients (nitrate, ammonium and Fe-II) were atmospherically transported to the East China Sea before the harmful algal bloom. We suggest that atmospheric transport is a significant source of nutrients in the East China Sea when the hydrological setting is dominated by the oligotrophic Taiwan warm current in spring. This atmospheric transport of nutrients is a possible cause of harmful algal blooms along the coast of the East China Sea during dust events. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.