International Journal of Marine Science2016, Vol.6, No.50, 1-9
8
Figure 6: Decadal primary production in northern Indian Ocean
(1998-2007).
Figure 7: Average Euphotic depth (m) during1998-2007. LNCL
regions are marked in white.
5. Conclusions
Chlorophyll a, derived from ‘ocean color’ and sea surface temperature (SST) data have been used to identify and
map “ocean biological deserts” (the low nutrient low chlorophyll regions) in the north Indian Ocean. Such “ocean
biological deserts” can be the potential sites for artificial enrichment and subsequent growth of phytoplankton
biomass to enhance carbon sequestration and mitigate the impact of climate change. However, detailed
in situ
investigations on the vertical temperature, salinity and density structure up to 1000m depth, nutrient analysis,
alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, particulate organic carbon and total carbon dioxide, optical properties of
absorption and backscattering, biological properties (pigment concentrations, primacy production, new production,
phytoplankton assemblages), needs to be carried out exhaustively for one complete annual cycle before conducting
fertilization experiments of these regions.
Authors Contributions:
All the three authors have contributed in the concept development, data analysis and interpretation. MR and
Ajai have contributed in writing the manuscript.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and information Services Center/ Distributed Active Archive Center, NASA, for ocean
colour data from SeaWiFS and National Oceanographic Data Center and GHRSST, U.S.A for SST data from NOAA-AVHRR. One of
the authors, Ajai, Emeritus Scientist is thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India for support through
ES Scheme. We are thankful to Mr.TapanMisra, Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, and Ahmedabad, India for encouragement
and support.
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