01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-03-0330 |
| Title of Abstract | An Ecosystem in Flux - The Arabian Sea in a Warming World |
| Authors | Joaquim Goes*, Helga do Rosario Gomes, Jinghui Wu, Sergio deRada, Sherwin Ladner, Prabhu Matondkar |
| Organisation | Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University |
| Address | 61 Route 9W Palisades, New York, United States Pincode: 10964 E-mail: jig@ldeo.columbia.edu |
| Country | United States |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | The Arabian Sea⿿s monsoon-driven ecosystem has undergone profound transformations since the Joint Global Ocean Flux Studies (JGOFS) program of the mid-1990s, with many changes linked to the growing influence of climate variability. Since 1998, summer coastal upwelling has intensified, while winter convective mixing has weakened, driving biomass increases and a major shift in the winter-time microbial community from diatom dominance to widespread blooms of the mixoplankton, Noctiluca scintillans. In contrast, the inter-monsoon periods, traditionally characterized by weak winds, acute oligotrophy, and low productivity, remain comparatively understudied. Emerging evidence, however, points to increasing cyclonic activity during these transitional phases, with satellite observations revealing phytoplankton biomass increases comparable to those seen in summer upwelling seasons. Such ecosystem transitions have far-reaching consequences for food-web dynamics, biogeochemical cycling, and the sustainability of coastal fisheries. Yet, contemporary studies remain sparse, and key questions about the Arabian Sea⿿s evolving productivity states, from oligotrophic to mesotrophic to eutrophic, are unanswered. Here, we integrate satellite observations, coupled physical-biological model outputs, and targeted shipboard measurements to assess the present state of the Arabian Sea ecosystem, highlight emerging trends, and identify critical challenges and opportunities for future research. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Climate Change, Ecosystem Change, Monsoons |
| For Awards | no |