Both the highest (1.58 ±
1.09 mg m−3, n = 13) and lowest Chl a (0.18 ± 0.05 mg m−3, n = 7)
were observed in this area during the April and August cruises, due to
the spring bloom and the strong summer stratification, respectively.
The seasonal patterns of sea surface Chl a measured by satellites at the
coastal (D1) and central (D5) stations were consistent with the in situ
measurements (Fig. 5)