Chlorophyll‐ a bloom along the southern coasts of Java and Sumatra during 2006

Nine years of chlorophyll‐a concentration data provided by the Sea‐viewing Wide‐Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) revealed an unusual bloom along the southern coastal area of Java and Sumatra during 2006. The bloom was generated by anomalous strong southeasterly winds along the coasts of Java and Sumatra associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event. The bloom evolution started in July 2006 and intensified during August 2006. Peak positive anomalies exceeding 4.0 mg m−3 were evident in September–November coinciding with the peak phase of the IOD. The blooms, thereafter, diminished rapidly in December 2006. In addition, there was an offshore intensification of chlorophyll‐a distribution off eastern Java during November initiated by upwelling‐favourable winds along the coast. Concurrent altimeter data show that the offshore intensification was co‐located with the cyclonic eddies that further enhanced the intensification by increasing the concentration of nutrients in the euphotic zone.