Seasonal and summer interannual variations of SeaWiFS chlorophyll a in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

► Described seasonal variation of standard SeaWiFS chl-a in Yellow and East China Seas. ► Overestimation near Changjiang Bank and coastal areas due to resuspension in winter. ► Spring bloom was seen in large area of Yellow and East China Seas. ► Eastward shift of high chl-a area coincided with movement of Changjiang diluted water. ► Summer interannual chl-a variation affected by variation of Changjiang discharge.