Arabian Sea is highly influenced by monsoon systems like SW monsoon (June-September) and NE monsoon (December-February). This affects distribution pattern of phytoplankton, availability of nutrients and changing temperature specially during winter cooling period (February-March). These and other conditions like quality and quantity of light influence phytoplankton (type and concentration) in the Arabian Sea. In our study we have observed monsoon related peaks in phytoplankton and chlorophyll a in the Arabian Sea. These chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations detected by OCM sensor onboard IRS-P4 satellite is helping us to work out seasonality of phytoplankton in the Arabian Sea, which is of the great importance in the field of biology and biogeochemistry of this region. However, during these study subsurface chlorophyll a maxima (SCM) was observed as characteristics feature of chlorophyll a distribution in the Arabian Sea. The subsurface chlorophyll a maxima varies from 30m to 55m in the Arabian Sea during various seasons. During November at St. 1 surface chlorophyll a was 1.503 mgm^-3 and subsurface chlorophyll maxima was 12.692 mgm^-3. Similarly, at St. 13 surface chlorophyll a was 0.584 mgm^-3 and surface chlorophyll maxima was 8.517 mgm^-3. During upwelling, nutrients remained unused at sub surface due to shortage of light which may lead to subsurface blooms, detection of which is critical for precise estimation of chlorophyll a from ocean colour sensor. During our 5 year study (covering all the seasons) in northeastern (NE) Arabian Sea, we have observed more than 50 % stations were with subsurface chlorophyll a maxima where chlorophyll a was approximately 10 times higher compared to surface value. The high chlorophyll some time detected by OCM is mainly because of detection of subsurface chlorophyll maxima by the satellite but may not actually sampled during ship studies. The satellite penetration depth (ze), subsurface chlorophyll maxima depth, OCM derived chlorophyll a for different seasons in NE Arabian Sea is presented and discussed in this paper.
Trichodesmium spp. is widely spread in the Arabian Sea. It form dense patches. During 2000-2005 (5 years period) extensive sampling was done in the Arabian Sea covering large area and different months starting from November to May. Three prominent sites are identified as Trichodesmium bloom sites in the Arabian Sea: 1) Lakshadweep waters 2) Off Goa and 3) Off Gujarat area. Bloom of around 100 km2 area with 4 to 400737 filamentsL-1 concentrations are recorded. Two species of Trichodesmium are encountered based upon seasonality and environmental conditions. OCM derived chlorophyll a during bloom was as high as 0.5 to 1 mgm-3, at time increased upto 5 mgm-3 and depends upon number of filaments in water. The Trichodesmium features were identified at 869, 670, 555nm in OCM data. Trichodesmium was detected as stripes and eddies in OCM images. The bloom patches appear darker which is taken as measurement of spread of the bloom in water. Total 133 stations are covered during 5 years period out of which 63 stations showed presence of Trichodesmium with discolouration of water. In offshore water Trichodesmium was detected as early as November and continued upto April month whereas in the coastal water Trichodesmium prevailed from February to May. The seasonality of these blooms was observed with respect to inshore/offshore and two species of Trichodesmium is discussed with the help of OCM data processed for chlorophyll a during Trichodesmium growth period, at 3 identified sites in the Arabian Sea.
Sequence of the images from IRS P4 / OCM satellite and extensive shipboard sampling programme are used to
understand the seasonal variation of phytoplankton abundance and types in the Northeastern (NE) Arabian Sea and
Lakshadweep Sea. An appreciable degree of spatial and temporal variability is observed in chlorophyll a distribution
from November to April months, as well as coastal and offshore stations, indicating marked seasonality in phytoplankton
distribution in NE Arabian Sea. During November month (fall intermonsoon) average chlorophyll a (Chl a) by
fluorometer was (0.799 mgm^-3) and by OCM it was 0.584 mgm^-3. The higher chlorophyll a observed was due to
Trichodesmium (cyanobacteria) blooms. During December the average chlorophyll a was 0.34 mgm^-3 also due to
Trichodesmium filaments in water column. During January onwards winter cooling led to increase in nutrients which
enhanced chlorophyll a value to 0.64 mgm^-3 due to growth of flagellates (as seen by high chlorophyll b besides
chlorophyll a) in water column. February, March and April supported moderately high chlorophyll value (0. 3 to 0.5
mgm^-3) due to growth of prasinophytes (as seen by pigment prasinoxanthin) and blooms of the Noctiluca miliaris. Time
series monitoring of Noctiluca bloom was also conducted using OCM based chlorophyll images in NE Arabian Sea.
During February chlorophyll a retrieved by OCM was 0.3 to 0.9 mgm^-3. Pigment analysis of water samples indicated the
equal important of accessory pigment like zeaxanthin, prasinoxanthin, beta-carotene. The relevance of these pigments
estimated by HPLC like zeaxanthin (cyanobacteria), fucoxanthin (diatoms), peridinin (dinoflagellates) is presented and
discussed. Similarly, exercise is conducted in Lakshadweep waters where Trichodesmium related peak in chlorophyll a
was observed during March onwards in OCM data. The average chlorophyll a in NE Arabian Sea at surface during
November was (0.726 mgm^-3), December (0.34 mgm^-3), January (0.723 mgm^-3), February (0.344 mgm^-3), March (0.963
mgm^-3) and April 0.665 mgm^-3. Similar trend was observed in primary productivity estimates. The attempt is made to
work out seasonality in the productivity of the Arabian Sea using OCM derived chlorophyll and relation of enhancement
in productivity due to development of winter blooms in the Arabian Sea. The environmental conditions (temperature,
wind, nutrients and mixed layer depth) affecting these blooms responsible for year to year variation in bloom biomass
and productivity is also presented in detail.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.