Temporal variability of satellite chlorophyll-a as an ecological resilience indicator in the central region of the Gulf of California

•Resilience indicators of satellite Chl-a 1997–2020 time series were estimated.•An early warning of resilience indicators preceded the critical Chl-a transitions.•Critical transitions in 2012 are congruent with climate variability in the Gulf of California.•Intrinsic spatial and temporal variability in resilience indicators is detected.•Depth Chlorophyll-a maximum maintain resilience under shifting climate.