01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-06-0019 |
| Title of Abstract | Temporal variation of Micro Phytoplankton in Arabian Sea |
| Authors | Cdr Swapnil Bathe*, Cdr Shweta Prashar* |
| Organisation | Indian Navy |
| Address | MET OFFICE,INS DEGA Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India Pincode: 530009 E-mail: swapnilbathe@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | his study investigates the temporal variation of micro phytoplankton in the Arabian Sea, a globally significant and highly productive marine region characterised by pronounced seasonal oscillations in biological activity. Phytoplankton is the base of the marine food web categorised by size into picoplankton (<2um), nanoplankton (>2um and <20um) and microplankton (>20 um). The microplankton dominates the high productivity in nutrient rich coastal waters. The Arabian Sea has unique hydrographic conditions which driven by the summer southwest monsoon (causing upwelling) and winter surface cooling (leading to vertical mixing) making it an ideal location for studying these temporal dynamics. The research utilised satellite derived data from AQUA-MODIS level 3 with 4Km resolution. Key parameters analysed include Chlorophyll_a concentration (Cm), Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Diffused Attenuation Coefficient (Kd490) and Absorption (ADG) at 443nm. A three-component abundance model, as described by Brewin et al., was applied to discriminate and quantify phytoplankton size classes from these ocean color data. The results present comprehensive monthly maps illustrating the temporal variability of Cm, SST, Kd490 and ADG across the Arabian Sea. These visual analyses reveal distinct seasonal patterns in micro phytoplankton distribution and abundance. The further correlation study was undertaken with the observed fluctuations in SST (23 - 26 Deg C), Kd490 (0.02-1.6) and ADG (>0.069). This study provides valuable insights into dynamic nature of micro phytoplankton populations in the Arabian Sea especially dinoflagellates which have the remarkable ability to produce Bioluminescence which is both a challenge and an opportunity for Indian Navy. Bioluminescence is of significant strategic importance for naval operations, particularly in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and the stealth of underwater vehicles. This research aims at optimally leveraging the in-situ information of biomass production, studying the temporal variability and enhancing our understanding the relation of marine ecosystem and bioluminescence, which is critical from the military perspective. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Temporal Variation, micro phytoplankton, Arabian Sea, OCM data, Bioluminescence |
| For Awards | no |