Application of Satellite Products to Study Upwelling, Chlorophyll and Mixed Layer Depth of Southeastern Arabian Sea

The role of wind stressin modulating upwellingand subsequent changes in mixed layerdepth and chlorophyllconcentration in southeastern Arabian Sea are studied for the period encompassing 2000 - 2008. During southwest monsoon season favoring upwellingin this region, it is observed that decrease in wind stressis always followed by an increase in chlorophyllconcentration with approximately two weeks delay, accompanied by the shoalingof mixed layerdepth, whereas the opposite is observed during high wind stressperiods. This is attributed to the mixing and entrainment of nutrients into the euphotic zone which enable increase in surface chlorophylland thereby boosting the primary productivity of the region. Wavelet analysis is used to deduce the temporal variability of winds, chlorophylland mixed layerfor the region. A time lag of 2 weeks is observed between the decrease in wind stressfollowed by a high in the surface chlorophyllconcentration, often well captured by satellite. Another interesting o...