Abstract

Mesoscale eddies in the oceans are known to modify the nutrient supply, stimulate phytoplankton growth, and significantly affect carbon fixation. Submesoscale processes associated with mesoscale eddies have been suggested to induce even stronger variability in phytoplankton dynamics; however, their large‐scale impact has not been quantitatively evaluated in the global ocean. By combining multiple satellite products to resolve both mesoscale and submesoscale dynamic regimes, we evaluated their contributions to high sea surface chlorophyll. Our results reveal that the dominant dynamics associated with high chlorophyll in different gyres are not the same and can vary from the mesoscale to the submesoscale. In subtropical gyres worldwide, the contribution of submesoscale structures around mesoscale eddies to high chlorophyll is comparable to that of mesoscale eddies (34.1% versus 30.8%). These results extend our current understanding of the impacts of eddies on biogeochemical processes and may have important implications for the global carbon cycle.