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On the occurrence of oxygen maxima and minima in the upper 500 meters of the north-western Indian Ocean

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Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The depths of occurrence of oxygen maxima and minima have been studied in the upper 500 meters of the north-western Indian Ocean (including Arabian Sea and Laccadive Sea). The data collected by various ships during the International Indian Ocean Expedition were pooled into one degree grids and analysed for getting patterns of distribution—seasonally and regionally.

The studies reveal that there is much variation in the depths of occurrence of oxygen maxima and minima in different areas and different seasons in the north-western Indian Ocean. Along the continental shelf all over the Arabian Sea, biological activity appears to play a predominant role in controlling the oxygen content, while in the open parts of the ocean the depths of occurrence of oxygen maxima and minima mainly appear to be governed by the water movements, circulation and mixing. one of the important observations is the existence of stagnant or near-stagnant conditions in the more central part of the Arabian Sea, restricting the exchange of water masses with the adjoining seas.

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Communicated by Dr. N. K. Panikkar,f.a.sc.

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Panakala Rao, D., Jayaraman, R. On the occurrence of oxygen maxima and minima in the upper 500 meters of the north-western Indian Ocean. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 71, 230–246 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050300

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