The Open Oceanography Journal

2013, 7 : 1-7
Published online 2013 January 16. DOI: 10.2174/1874252101307010001
Publisher ID: TOOCEAJ-7-1

Study of Chlorophyll-a Enhancement Over the Northern Arabian Sea

K. Muni Krishna
Department of. Meteorology & Oceanography, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003 India.

ABSTRACT

Northern Arabian Sea is one of the most biologically rich region in the North Indian ocean during winter season. In the present study I wish to investigate the the dynamics behind the enrichment of Chlorophyll-a at the above region using multi satellite observations. Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) imageries are used to identify these areas along the west coast of India during February 2000 & 2001 and the mechanisms that can upwell nutrients to sustain the bloom are investigated using sea surface temperature and winds. The variability of Ekman pumping velocity along the northeast Arabian sea is 0.5 - 3.0x10-6 m/s and the Ekman depth is 25 - 55m. Sea surface temperature was 1°C cooler in 2001 winter. This increased cooling resulted in more intense convection and vertical mixing.

Keywords:

Ekman pumping, upwelling, chlorophyll.