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Influence of Physical Processes on Nutrient Dynamics and Phytoplankton in the Coastal Bay of Bengal

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Estuarine Biogeochemical Dynamics of the East Coast of India

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Abstract

This review chapter addresses the impact of physical forcing mechanisms on spatiotemporal variation of biological productivity aided by nutrient dynamics in the nearshore waters of the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The BoB has a unique physical forcing mechanism, viz., reversal pattern of monsoon wind, large freshwater influx, and remote forcing from the equator. The substantial freshwater influx into the BoB leads to strong stratification and a strong halocline below the mixed layer. Nonetheless, the strong southwest monsoon wind is inadequate to break this stratification and hence obstructs the vertical transfer of nutrients from the nutricline. This phenomenon makes the BoB oligotrophic. In contrast to this, several physical processes increase productivity by bringing nutrients from the nutricline to euphotic depths. The southwest monsoon-induced wind-driven upwelling and the ocean Ekman pumping by positive cyclonic wind stress circulation triggered by the northeast monsoon enhance the primary production in the BoB. Before the onset of the southwest monsoon, the water current along India’s east coast brings more saline, cooler water to the surface by eddy-like structures, and this process causes surplus productivity in the BoB. Moreover, tropical cyclones moving over the BoB are adequate to break the stratification and thereby injecting nutrients, subject to phytoplankton blooms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Ocean Technology, MoES, Chennai, India

    Madhusmita Dash

  2. Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

    Chandanlal Parida

  3. Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, MoES, Port Blair, India

    Biraja Kumar Sahu

  4. Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, Berhampur, India

    Kali Charan Sahu

  5. School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

    Sourav Das

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  1. Madhusmita Dash
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  2. Chandanlal Parida
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  3. Biraja Kumar Sahu
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  4. Kali Charan Sahu
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Sourav Das

  2. School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Tuhin Ghosh

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Dash, M., Parida, C., Sahu, B.K., Sahu, K.C., Das, S. (2021). Influence of Physical Processes on Nutrient Dynamics and Phytoplankton in the Coastal Bay of Bengal. In: Das, S., Ghosh, T. (eds) Estuarine Biogeochemical Dynamics of the East Coast of India. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68980-3_13

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