副热带海域的海洋加热异常及其对副高的影响

海洋在天气、气候及大气环流变化过程中起着重要作用,海洋热源的异常分布是造成长期天气异常的重要原因。海洋对大气的作用主要是通过海气界面的热量交换来实现的，因此,直接运用海气热量交换来考虑海洋对大气的加热作用,分析海洋加热异常对长期天气、气候及大气环流的影响,具有更明确的物理意义。 西北太平洋副热带高压是造成我国旱、涝及天气变化的主要副热带天气系统,对我国夏季气温、雨带位置及强度影响很大。西北太平洋中、低纬副热带地区是海洋向大气提供热量和水汽较多的地区,也是海气相互作用最强烈的海域,这一地区的海洋加热对西北太平洋副热带高压的变化将有直接影响。本文分析了冬季西北太平洋副热带海域海洋加热主要场的分布特征,指出了海洋加热与西北太平洋副热带高压的关系。结果表明,冬季该海域海洋加热较常年偏多时,冬、春至初夏副高偏弱,位置偏东、南(6月副高脊线位置除外);反之,海洋加热较常年偏少时,副高偏强,位置偏西、北(6月副高脊线位置除外)。该海域海洋加热对副热带地区大气环流,尤其是副热带高压环流的变化有着重要作用。本结果对预测西北太平洋副热带高压的变化,研究中纬度海洋加热对西北太平洋副热带高压及其大气环流的影响有十分重要的意义。     

冬季中纬度海气相互作用与长江中下游汛期旱涝预测

中纬度海洋的热力状况对大气环流的维持和变化起着重要的作用,尤其在冬季。汛期的研究表明,冬季黑潮海域海表面水温(SST)与长江中下游和华北平原汛期降水有密切的关系(中国科学院大气物理研究所长期预报组,1978),夏季阿留申海域的SST异常与北太平洋上空大气环流场和后期秋季美国的气温和降水亦存在有意义的关系(Namias,1976)。赵永平(1986a;赵永平, McBean,1996)和Zhao and McBean(1989)曾用北太平洋海洋对大气加热场资料详细地分析了其时空分布特征,揭露了黑潮及邻近海域海洋异常加热对同期和后期半年至一年北半球大气环流的影响事实,并提出用海洋异常加热对同期和后期大气环流作用的反相性假说来进行解释。以上研究表明,冬季中纬度海洋异常加热与大气环流的异常和我国汛期旱涝之间存在一定的联系。 冬季黑潮和湾流海域是中纬度海洋的两个巨大热源,它们对同期和后期大气环流有重要影响。本文研究了冬季中纬度黑潮和湾流海域海洋异常加热对夏季副热带高压和中高纬度西风环流的影响,讨论了长江中下游汛期旱涝前期冬季和同期大气环流型。结果表明,冬季东亚和北美冷空气都强时,黑潮和湾流海域对大气异常多加热,夏季西太副热带高压、乌山和鄂海阻塞高压多趋减弱,中纬环流平直,形成长江中下游偏旱的环流形势；反之,西太副热带高压、乌山和鄂海阻塞高压多趋加强,中纬槽脊系统明显,形成长江中下游偏涝的环流场。本文还对可能的物理过程进行了讨论。     

太平洋热状况与我国旱涝关系研究综述

全球气候变化是目前人们关心的一个重要问题。已有的研究表明，海洋在全球气候变化中起着非常重要的作用。早在本世纪５０年代初，我国的气象学家就着手研究海洋对气候的影响［１］。自７０年代起，我国学者相继研究了中纬度海洋的海表水温（ＳＳＴ）对大气环流和我国降水的影响。并开始较系统地分析热带海洋对西太平洋副热带高压（以下简称副高）和我国降水的影响。近年来随着国际合作的不断增多，我国的海气相互作用研究进展较迅速，特别是海洋对我国气候变化的研究取得了不少成果。本文仅就太平洋热状况与我国旱涝关系研究所取得的主要结…     

北太平洋副热带潜沉率及其变化中海面风的作用

采用中国科学院大气物理研究所的高分辨率逐日风场驱动的全球海洋模式(LICOM1·0)对北太平洋海域的潜沉(Subduction)过程和副热带模态水形成区潜沉率的年际变化进行了数值模拟,并将模拟结果与同化的海洋模式资料(SODA)进行了比较。研究结果表明,该高分辨率的海洋模式对北太平洋的绝大部分海域晚冬混合层底水质点的运动方向和路径的数值模拟结果较好,模式模拟的副热带环流比SODA资料中的副热带环流流速强;模式模拟的混合层深度比SODA资料中的混合层深度深,更接近观测;模式中副热带海域的潜沉率大于SODA资料中的副热带海域的潜沉率。模式结果表明,副热带环流和副极地环流交界处是潜沉过程发生的最主要区,该区气候平均的潜沉率超过100m/a,最大为150m/a,海面风变异引起的海洋平流的年际和年代际变化,是该区潜沉率发生年际和年代际变化的主要原因;在太平洋副热带东部模态水形成区,气候平均的潜沉率超过50m/a,在该区潜沉率的年际变化中,局地风应力旋度决定的Ekman抽吸要比海洋平流效应更加重要。     

北太平洋经向翻转环流和热盐输送研究综述

北太平洋经向翻转环流是北太平洋所有经向翻转环流圈的总称,目前它拥有五个环流圈,即副热带环流圈(the subtropical cell,STC)、热带环流圈(the tropical cell,TC)、副极地环流圈(the subpolar cell,SPC)、深层热带环流圈(the deep tropical cell,DTC)和温跃层环流圈(the thermohaline cell,THC)。这些环流圈是北太平洋经向物质和能量交换的重要通道,它们的变化对海洋上层热盐结构和气候变化皆有重要影响。迄今,人们已对STC、TC和DTC的结构形态、变化特征与机理开展了广泛而深入的研究,并对STC的极向热输送特征也做了一些初步分析。但应指出的是,关于SPC和THC的研究仍较少,迄今尚不清楚这两个环流圈的三维结构和变异机理;而且,对北太平洋经向翻转环流的热盐输送研究尚处于起步阶段,目前对各环流圈的热盐输送特征、变化规律和变异机理仍知之甚少,这些科学问题亟待深入研究。     

副热带太平洋海气变异对ENSO影响的研究进展和展望

El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO)是热带太平洋海气作用最强的年际信号,其变化会引起全球气候异常,对东亚季风具有重要影响。2000年后中部型ElNi?o频繁发生,掀起了ENSO多样性研究热潮; El Ni?o的复杂性也对ENSO理论研究和预测提出了新的挑战。为进一步理解并深入研究ENSO物理机制,本文总结了近年来对两类ENSO的最新认识;特别对副热带太平洋通过海气界面"大气桥"和太平洋副热带-热带经向环流圈的内部经向翻转环流这一"海洋通道"与热带太平洋建立联系的相关成果进行了阐述,并对存在的关键问题进行了展望。     

全球海洋环流模式中上层海洋对表面强迫的响应和调整Ⅱ.年代际变率

利用一个较高分辨率的全球海洋环流模式在COADS 1945～1993年逐月平均资料的强迫下对海温和环流场进行了模拟,分析了北太平洋海温和环流场的年代际变化特征,同时诊断了1976-77年代际跃变过程中海温场变化的机制.模式模拟出了北太平洋海温年代际异常的主要模态以及1976-77年跃变前后的演变特征,模拟的北太平洋中部、加州沿岸和KOE区的海温异常的强度和演变趋势均和观测比较一致;同时,模式重现了分别始于20世纪70和80年代的中纬度海温异常信号沿等密度面向低纬地区的两次潜沉过程.在表层,流场的异常主要表现为与风应力异常基本符合Ekman关系的一个异常海洋涡旋,而整个上层海洋平均的流场异常则表现为两个海洋涡旋的异常,其中副热带海洋涡旋的异常的强度要显著于副极地海洋涡旋的异常,而副极地海洋涡旋异常出现的时间比副热带海洋涡旋晚3a左右的时间.对1976-77年前后3个区域上层海温各贡献项的诊断结果表明,北太平洋中部变冷主要是水平平流和热通量异常贡献的结果;而加州沿岸变暖主要归因于热通量的贡献;在KOE区,垂直平流、热通量和水平平流三者都起了重要作用,其中水平平流异常对这一区域海温年代际跃变出现的时间起了至关重要的作用.     

热带外太平洋通过海洋过程对热带太平洋的影响

利用MOM2海洋环流模式分别研究了年际和年代际尺度上热带外太平洋通过海洋过程对热带太平洋的影响.利用1945~1993年COADS资料的表面通量强迫海洋模式,积分46 a作为模式控制试验.取热带外太平洋海表面强迫为气候值做敏感性试验.将控制试验结果减去敏感性结果就可以得到热带外太平洋通过海洋过程对热带太平洋的影响.结果表明,年际尺度上,主要是海洋波动过程起作用,但总的海洋过程的影响较小.年代际尺度上,主要是副热带环流输送起作用,其中包括平均环流输送的温度异常以及异常环流输送的平均温度,并且后者贡献相对较大.年际和年代际尺度上,热带太平洋的温度异常主要发生在密度跃层附近.研究发现热带外南太平洋对热带和热带外太平洋之间的水量交换有影响,而热带外北太平洋的影响较弱.     

近惯性内波破碎混合方案对MOM4模式的影响

风生近惯性内波破碎引起的跨等密度面混合在海洋内部混合中起重要作用。然而其参数化对海洋模式的模拟影响仍有待进一步认识。本文给出的是在模块化海洋模式（MOM）中海洋表面边界层以下引入一个考虑风驱动近惯性内波破碎引起的跨等密度面混合参数化方案的研究工作。模拟结果显示,该方案有效改善MOM4模拟的上层1 000 m以上的温盐偏差,特别是在北太平洋和北大西洋的通风地区。数值试验表明,风生近惯性内波破碎有可能是维持海洋通风过程的重要机制之一,它使得海洋通风区的位温变冷,盐度变淡,整层等位密面加深。维持的通风过程使得北太平洋副极地大涡的影响延伸到副热带大涡。从而模拟的北太平洋中层水源头及其副热带大涡东侧的温盐更接近观测实际。同时,模拟的北大西洋经圈翻转环流强度也更为合理。     

副热带一热带太平洋密跃层水量交换年际变化的模拟研究

利用一个全球海洋环流模式在3组风应力资料的强迫下模拟分析了副热带太平洋向热带太平洋密跃层水量输送的年际变化特征及其和风应力的关系,并设计数值试验,研究了密跃层水量输送的变化机制.结果表明,副热带太平洋向赤道太平洋的密跃层水量输送具有显著的年际变化.在年际时间尺度上,南北太平洋西边界密跃层水量输送都起着补偿内部路径输送的...     

Indices of strength and location for the North Pacific Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres

The adjustment of the North Pacific Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres towards changes in wind stress leads to different time-scale variabilities, which plays a significant role in climate changes. Based on the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) and Global Ocean Data Assimilation System (GODAS) datasets, the variations of the Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres are diagnosed using "three-dimension Ocean Circulation Diagnostic Method", and established three types of index series describe the strength, meridional and depth center of the Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres. The above indices present the seasonal, interannual and interdecadal variabilities of the Subtropical and Subpolar Gyres, which proves well. Both the Gyres are the strongest in winter, but the Subtropical Gyre is the weakest in summer and the Subpolar Gyre is the weakest in autumn. The Subtropical Gyre moves northward from February to March, southward in October, and to the southernmost in around January, while the Subpolar Gyre moves northward in spring, southward in summer, northward again in autumn and reaching the extreme point in winter to the south. The common feature of the interannual and interdecadal variabilities is that the two gyres were weaker and to the north before 1976-1977, while they were stronger and to the south after 1976-1977. The Subpolar Gyre has made a paramount contribution to the variability on interdecadal scales. As is indicated with the Subpolar Gyre strength indices, there was an important shift from weak to strong around 1976-1977, and the correlation coefficient with the North Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) indices was 0.45, which was far better than that between the Subtropical Gyre strength indices and the PDO. Tests show that influenced by small and mesoscale eddies, the magnitude of large-scale gyres strength is strongly dependent on data resolution. But seasonal interannual and interdecadal large-scale variabilities of the two gyres presented with indices is less affected by model resolution.     

Assemblages of phytoplankton pigments along a shipping line through the North Atlantic and tropical Pacific

A set of phytoplankton pigment measurements collected on eight quarterly transects from France to New Caledonia is analyzed in order to identify the main assemblages of phytoplankton and to relate their occurrence to oceanic conditions. Pigment concentrations are first divided by the sum [monovinyl chlorophyll a plus divinyl chlorophyll a] to remove the effect of biomass, and second are normalized to give an equal weight to all pigments. The resulting 17 pigments × 799 observations matrix is then classified into 10 clusters using neural methodology. Eight out of these 10 clusters have a well marked regional or seasonal character, thus evidencing adapted responses of the phytoplankton communities. The main gradient opposes two clusters with high fucoxanthin and chlorophyll c₁₊₂ in the North Atlantic in January, April and July, to three clusters in the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre with high divinyl chlorophyll a, zeaxanthin and phycoerythrin. One of the clusters in the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre has relatively high zeaxanthin and phycoerythrin contents and dominates in November and February (austral summer), while another with relatively high divinyl chlorophylls a and b dominates in May and August (austral winter). The third one in the South Pacific is characterized by high carotene concentration and its occurrence peaks in February and May. In the equatorial current system, one cluster, rich in chlorophylls b and c₁₊₂, is strictly located in a narrow zone centred at the equator, while another with relatively high violaxanthin concentration is restricted to the high nutrient - low chlorophyll waters in only the southern part of the South Equatorial Current. One cluster with relatively high prasinoxanthin content has a spatial distribution spanning the entire South Equatorial Current. Two clusters have a ubiquitous distribution: one in the equatorial Pacific, the Carribbean Sea and the North Atlantic during summer has pigment concentrations close to the average of the entire dataset, and the other in the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre, the Carribbean Sea and the North Atlantic during autumn clearly has an oligotrophic character. Many of the differences between clusters are caused by diagnostic pigments of nano- or picoflagellates. While the space and time characteristics of the clusters are well marked and might correspond to differences in physical and chemical forcing, knowledge of the ecological requirements of these flagellates is generally lacking to explain how the variability of the environment triggers these clusters.     

Numerical study of the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent

Using a multi-level numerical model, it is shown that the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent can be reproduced realistically in a highly idealized model, as a consequence of the coupling effect of wind driven gyre circulation and differential heating. In the model, the North Pacific Ocean is idealized as a rectangular flat-bottomed model ocean, and is driven by wind stress, which features the Westerlies and the Trades, and by heat flux through the sea surface formulated after Haney (1971).In the model ocean, a shallow front and an eastward current associated with the front are formed around the central latitude of the Subtropical Gyre, which show close similarities to the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent in the real ocean.Although the detailed mechanism of formation of the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent is not clarified in the present study, two factors are found inessential for the formation of the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent. First, the results of the model indicate that a small trough of wind stress curl in the lower latitudes of the Subtropical Gyre, which Yoshida and Kidokoro (1967a, b) attributed to the Subtropical Countercurrent, is not necessary for the formation of the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent, since they are reproduced well in the model without the trough. Second, using a model driven by meridional wind stress, it is shown that the meridional Ekman convergence, which many authors related to the Subtropical Front, is not essential for the formation of the Subtropical Front and the Subtropical Countercurrent.     

Low-frequency variations of the Gulf-Stream transport: description and mechanisms

On the basis of the contemporary array of oceanographic and hydrometeorological data, we compute the characteristics of variations of the Gulf-Stream transport in 1950–2004. The role played by the low-frequency oscillations of vorticity of the wind field and turbulent heat fluxes in the North Atlantic in the formation of the analyzed variations is estimated. We reveal a significant (on a 5% confidence level) positive linear trend of the monthly average Gulf-Stream transport manifested in the increase in the Gulf-Stream transport by 13 Sv for the investigated period. On the basis of the established estimates, we make a conclusion that about a quarter of the interannual variations of the Gulf-Stream transport is caused by the low-frequency oscillations of vorticity of the wind field in the Subtropical Atlantic. Moreover, the Gulf-Stream transport is delayed relative to the wind oscillations by about 2 yr. An important role in the changes in the Gulf-Stream transport is played by the response of the system of west boundary currents to the quasiperiodic action of turbulent heat fluxes on the surface of the ocean connected with the North-Atlantic Oscillation. The intensification of turbulent heat fluxes in the Northern Subpolar Cyclonic Gyre and their weakening in the north part of the Subtropical Anticyclonic Gyre are accompanied by the intensification of the Gulf Stream observed after 3–5 yr. The anomalies of turbulent heat fluxes of the opposite sign are followed by weakening of the Gulf Stream also after a period of 3–5 yr. We also mention a potentially important role played the Pacific decadal oscillation in maintaining the decadal variations of the intensity of Gulf Stream. The influence of this oscillation on the Gulf-Stream transport is realized both via the changes in the wind field in different phases of oscillations and due to its influence on the heat exchange of the ocean with the atmosphere.     

2011年3月日本福岛核电站核泄漏在海洋中的传输

使用全球版本的迈阿密等密度海洋环流模式对2011年3月日本福岛核电站泄漏在海洋中的传输以及扩散进行了数值模拟。数值模式中核废料(示踪物)排放情景采取等通量连续排放,排放时间从3月25日开始,分别持续20 d以及1 a,两种情形分别积分20 a。为了减少海洋环流年际变化带来的数值模拟的的不确定性,20 a的模式积分分别用2010年、1991-2011年、1971-1991年以及1951-1971年4个不同时段的NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料作为大气强迫场,因此每种排放情形包含4个数值试验。模拟结果的分析表明,不同核废料排放情景及其在不同时段大气资料对海洋模式的驱动下,模拟的示踪物总体的传输扩散路径(包括表层以及次表层)、传输速率以及垂直扩展的范围没有显著的差异。集合平均数值模拟的结果显示:在两种排放情景下,日本福岛核泄漏在海洋的传输路径受北太平洋副热带涡旋洋流系统主导,其传输路径首先主要向东,到达东太平洋后,再向南向西扩散至西太平洋,可能在10~15 a左右影响到我国东部沿海海域,且海洋次表层的传输信号比表层信号早5 a左右。通过进一步分析模式积分过程中最大示踪物浓度随时间变化发现,在积分第20 a(2031年3月),海洋表层和次表层浓度的最高值分别只有模式积分第一年浓度的0.1%和1%。在积分的20 a里,排放的核废料主要滞留在北太平洋海域(超过86%±1.5%的核废料在积分结束时,滞留在北太平洋),而在积分的前10 a(2021年之前),几乎所有的核废料滞留在北太平洋;在核废料的垂直分布上,主要集中在海洋表层至600 m的深度,在积分的20 a时间里,没有核废料信号扩散至1 000 m以下的深度。数值模拟的结果也表明核废料浓度减弱的强度以及演变的时间特征主要受洋流系统的影响,与排放源的排放时间长短关系不大。值得指出的是,更加准确地评估一个真实的核泄漏事故对海洋环境所造成的可能影响,还需要考虑大气中的放射性物质的沉降以及海洋生态对核物质的响应。     

2011年3月日本福岛核电站核泄漏在海洋中的传输

使用全球版本的迈阿密等密度海洋环流模式对2011年3月日本福岛核电站泄漏在海洋中的传输以及扩散进行了数值模拟。数值模式中核废料(示踪物)排放情景采取等通量连续排放,排放时间从3月25日开始,分别持续20 d以及1 a,两种情形分别积分20 a。为了减少海洋环流年际变化带来的数值模拟的的不确定性,20 a的模式积分分别用2010年、1991-2011年、1971-1991年以及1951-1971年4个不同时段的NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料作为大气强迫场,因此每种排放情形包含4个数值试验。模拟结果的分析表明,不同核废料排放情景及其在不同时段大气资料对海洋模式的驱动下,模拟的示踪物总体的传输扩散路径(包括表层以及次表层)、传输速率以及垂直扩展的范围没有显著的差异。集合平均数值模拟的结果显示:在两种排放情景下,日本福岛核泄漏在海洋的传输路径受北太平洋副热带涡旋洋流系统主导,其传输路径首先主要向东,到达东太平洋后,再向南向西扩散至西太平洋,可能在10~15 a左右影响到我国东部沿海海域,且海洋次表层的传输信号比表层信号早5 a左右。通过进一步分析模式积分过程中最大示踪物浓度随时间变化发现,在积分第20 a(2031年3月),海洋表层和次表层浓度的最高值分别只有模式积分第一年浓度的0.1%和1%。在积分的20 a里,排放的核废料主要滞留在北太平洋海域(超过86%±1.5%的核废料在积分结束时,滞留在北太平洋),而在积分的前10 a(2021年之前),几乎所有的核废料滞留在北太平洋;在核废料的垂直分布上,主要集中在海洋表层至600 m的深度,在积分的20 a时间里,没有核废料信号扩散至1 000 m以下的深度。数值模拟的结果也表明核废料浓度减弱的强度以及演变的时间特征主要受洋流系统的影响,与排放源的排放时间长短关系不大。值得指出的是,更加准确地评估一个真实的核泄漏事故对海洋环境所造成的可能影响,还需要考虑大气中的放射性物质的沉降以及海洋生态对核物质的响应。     

A consideration on the mechanism of generation,stagnation and disappearance of the kuroshio Meander

A mechanism of the Kuroshio Meander is discussed by comparing some observed characteristics of the Kuroshio path with short- and long-term variations of the wind field over the North Pacific. It is suggested that the meander is caused by the blocking of the Kuroshio current by the Izu-Ogasawara Ridge. The blocking occurs when the depth of the main current increases or when the vertical shear becomes weak. These structural variations are closely related to the supposed baroclinic response of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre to long-term variations of the wind field with a period of about 56 years. The Kuroshio Meander is initiated by a trigger meander at the offiing of Shikoku Island. The trigger meander is closely related to the supposed barotropic response of the gyre to short-term variations of the wind field with a period of about 34 months.The barotropic response of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre to the short-term variation of the wind field yields the rapid change of the vertical structure of the Kuroshio current. This change generates the trigger meander in combination with the complicated pattern of the continental slope at the offing of Shikoku Island. The trigger meander is carried away toward the Izu-Ogasawara Ridge by the Kuroshio current. When the baroclinic response of the gyre is favourable for the blocking of the main current, the trigger meander and the cold eddy grow fed by the upwelling of the deep water of the Kuroshio which is blocked at the west of the ridge. The growing stops when the scale of the trigger meander reaches to the size of the steady Rossby wave which corresponds to the over-all mean velocity of the Kuroshio at that time, because the meander exceeding the size of the steady Rossby wave moves west-ward and separates from the ridge. Then the deep water of the Kuroshio at the west of the ridge which has been under the hard constraint of the cyclonic circulation in the form of the cold eddy becomes possible to flow arround the ridge. The upwelling stops and there remains only the general dissipation process of the available potential energy in the cold eddy. Then the meander gradually decreases its size and returns to the ridge when the meander becomes smaller than the steady Rossby wave at that time. It is blocked and begins to grow there again. In this way, the Kuroshio Meander behaves as a quasi-steady Rossby wave and stagnates at the west of the ridge until the baroclinic response of the gyre becomes unfavourable for the blocking of the Kuroshio current by the ridge.     

源地黑潮及其上下游流量的变化特征

本文基于长时间序列的海流和温盐资料（最新版SODA高分辩率再分析资料和137°E断面的观测资料）,计算了黑潮流系四个主要断面的流量,并分析了它们的变化特征．结果表明,黑潮流系各主要断面流量具有显著的季节性差异,其年际、年代际变化明显．相关分析表明,源地黑潮及其上下游流量变化具有较强的独立性,变化不尽一致,其中,短期气候变化特征可能与热带太平洋的年际变化有明显关联,而年代际变化则可能与发生于北太平洋的年代际变化以及其它副热带中尺度涡旋等变化有一定联系．     

Comparison of community structures between particle-associated and free-living prokaryotes in tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean surface waters

The subtropical and tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean are less productive than other oceanic regions. Although particle association should be an important strategy for heterotrophic prokaryotes to survive in such environments, we have little information on particle-associated (PA) prokaryotes in these regions. The specific aim of this study was to determine bacterial and archaeal community structures in the PA assemblage in comparison to the free-living (FL) assemblage in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and an eastern equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean. Community profiles and phylogenetic identities were obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 454-pyrosequencing, and cloning followed by Sanger sequencing of 16Sr RNA gene amplicons. The distribution patterns of some abundant groups in three regions and two lifestyles (PA and FL) are shown in this study. Also, the PA community structures of bacteria differed from the FL ones and exhibited higher diversity than the FL ones, while the archaeal community structures did not show significant differences between PA and FL assemblages. We found that specific phylotypes of Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria were abundant in PA bacterial assemblages, suggesting that they prefer to attach and consume particulate organic matter. In summary, the surface seawater PA assemblages represent very different bacterial and archaeal community structures between three different oceanic regions, each of which had distinct PA and FL community structures. These results imply that environmental factors determine microbial community structures.