Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-13
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-13
14 Mar 2025
 | 14 Mar 2025

Seasonality of the North Pacific Ocean Desert area in the past two decades and a modelling perspective for the 21st century

Siyu Meng, Xun Gong, Benjamin Webber, Manoj Joshi, Xiaokun Ding, Xiang Gong, Mingliang Gu, and Huiwang Gao

Abstract. As the largest ocean desert, the North Pacific Ocean Desert (NPOD) exhibits pronounced variations across seasonal, decadal, and centennial time scales. Notably, changes in the seasonality of the NPOD are thought to have larger effects on marine ecosystems than variability in the annual-mean state of the NPOD. However, the interannual variability of NPOD seasonality and its response to climate processes remain unclear. Here, we investigate the amplitude of the seasonal cycle in NPOD area and its linkage with climate variability and change. Our results show that the El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulated the seasonal maximum of NPOD area in boreal summer, and thus the amplitude of the seasonal cycle during 1998–2021. This is primarily due to ENSO-induced changes in nutrient transport via equatorial upwelling and thermal stratification. Future projections based on Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) modelling results and an Elman neural network indicate a significant decrease in the seasonal amplitude of NPOD area by 2100, attributed to the growing seasonal minimum of NPOD area in winter along the anthropogenic increase in atmospheric CO2. The findings highlight the importance of considering seasonal differences in future research on the interannual variability of ocean desert and underscore the need for models to distinguish between the effects of climate variability and change.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Feb 2026
Seasonality of the North Pacific Oligotrophic Gyre area in the past two decades and a modelling perspective for the 21st century
Siyu Meng, Xun Gong, Benjamin G. M. Webber, Manoj Joshi, Xiaokun Ding, Xiang Gong, Mingliang Gu, and Huiwang Gao
Biogeosciences, 23, 867–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-867-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-867-2026, 2026
Short summary
Siyu Meng, Xun Gong, Benjamin Webber, Manoj Joshi, Xiaokun Ding, Xiang Gong, Mingliang Gu, and Huiwang Gao

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-13', Anonymous Referee #1, 12 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Siyu Meng, 24 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-13', Emmanuel Boss, 15 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Siyu Meng, 24 Aug 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-13', Anonymous Referee #1, 12 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Siyu Meng, 24 Aug 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-13', Emmanuel Boss, 15 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Siyu Meng, 24 Aug 2025

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (05 Sep 2025) by Steven Bouillon
AR by Siyu Meng on behalf of the Authors (10 Oct 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (31 Oct 2025) by Steven Bouillon
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (04 Nov 2025)
RR by Emmanuel Boss (17 Nov 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (17 Nov 2025) by Steven Bouillon
AR by Siyu Meng on behalf of the Authors (25 Nov 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (21 Dec 2025) by Steven Bouillon
AR by Siyu Meng on behalf of the Authors (28 Dec 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Feb 2026
Seasonality of the North Pacific Oligotrophic Gyre area in the past two decades and a modelling perspective for the 21st century
Siyu Meng, Xun Gong, Benjamin G. M. Webber, Manoj Joshi, Xiaokun Ding, Xiang Gong, Mingliang Gu, and Huiwang Gao
Biogeosciences, 23, 867–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-867-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-867-2026, 2026
Short summary
Siyu Meng, Xun Gong, Benjamin Webber, Manoj Joshi, Xiaokun Ding, Xiang Gong, Mingliang Gu, and Huiwang Gao

Data sets

Data for "Seasonality of the North Pacific Ocean Desert area in the past two decades and a modelling perspective for the 21st century" Siyu Meng https://zenodo.org/records/14632256

Siyu Meng, Xun Gong, Benjamin Webber, Manoj Joshi, Xiaokun Ding, Xiang Gong, Mingliang Gu, and Huiwang Gao

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Short summary
The North Pacific Ocean Desert (NPOD), with low phytoplankton biomass, covers about 40 % of the North Pacific. The variations in NPOD seasonal cycle, which have a greater impact than its annual mean changes, are influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation from 1998 to 2021. However, from 2021 to 2100, a weakened NPOD seasonal cycle is expected due to climate change. These changes in NPOD seasonal cycle could affect fisheries and marine ecosystems.
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