ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management
What drives the increased phytoplankton biomass in the Arabian Sea?
DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography
View Archive Info| Field | Value | |
| Title |
What drives the increased phytoplankton biomass in the Arabian Sea?
|
|
| Creator |
PrasannaKumar, S.
Roshin, R.P. Narvekar, J. DineshKumar, P.K. Vivekanandan, E. |
|
| Subject |
iron fertilization
phytoplankton biomass chlorophyll pigment concentration upwelling |
|
| Description |
The seasonal variability of phytoplankton biomass in the Arabian Sea, though a well researched topic, its inter-annual variability is less explored and understood. Analysis of the satellite-derived chlorophyll pigment concentration in the Arabian Sea during 1997-2007 showed a weak increasing trend. Contrary to the earlier hypothesis, our analysis showed that this increased phytoplankton biomass was not driven by the strengthening winds during summer monsoon. In fact, the basin-averaged chlorophyll concentrations during summer monsoon tend to decline, whereas those in September-October and during the winter monsoon showed an increasing trend. Based on the analysis of wind and aerosol optical thickness data, we attribute the increased phytoplankton biomass during September-October to dust-induced iron fertilization when there is sufficient buildup of nitrate in the upper ocean. During winter, the enhanced evaporative cooling under the strengthening winds led to the increased convective mixing. Subsequent supply of subsurface nutrients to the euphotic zone coupled with the increased dust delivery support the observed increase in phytoplankton biomass during winter
|
|
| Date |
2010-07-15T12:23:45Z
2010-07-15T12:23:45Z 2010 |
|
| Type |
Journal Article
|
|
| Identifier |
Current Science, vol.99(1); 101-106
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/3652 |
|
| Language |
en
|
|
| Rights |
Copyright [2010]. All efforts have been made to respect the copyright to the best of our knowledge. Inadvertent omissions, if brought to our notice, stand for correction and withdrawal of document from this repository. |
|
| Publisher |
Current Science Association
|
|