Relatively high surface Chl a values from October 2009 to April 2010 correspond to high fluxes of diatoms and opal from November 2010 to May 2010. The peaks in diatom fluxes from January 21st to February 22nd 2010 and from March 26th to April 11th 2010 at 1003 m could be traced back to high Chl a concentrations during December 19th 2009 to January 24th 2010 and in March 6th to 29th 2010 separately. The surface Chl a peaks were observed at 20 days to 1 month earlier than the peaks of diatom and opal fluxes (Fig. 5a, b).