Basin-scale SST and Chl-a anomalies in the North Pacific in 2014-2015

Basin-scale satellite analyses reveal that positive SST temperature anomalies were discernible in the Subarctic Pacific as early as April 2013, persisting into 2015. SST anomalies were detectable off the west coast of North America beginning at different times in 2014. Basin-scale Chl-a anomalies over this same time period showed different signs in the Subarctic Pacific and off the west coast of the continental U.S., with generally positive anomalies in high latitudes in spring-summer, concurrent with negative Chl-a anomalies in mid-latitudes. This pattern leads to positively correlated SST and Chl-a anomalies in high latitudes, but negatively correlated anomalies in mid-latitudes. These results will be discussed in relation to hypothesized forcing of the NE Pacific during the 2014-2015 warming.