Seasonal distribution of chlorophyll-<i>α</i> in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India

Abstract

Seasonal distribution of chlorophyll-<i>α</i> (chl-<i>α</i>) in the different sectors of the EEZ of India was studied based on data from 430 stations over the period from 1962 to 1988. The annual average chl-<i>α</i> for the entire euphotic zone of EEZ was 12.0 mg m^-2 whereas the seasonal average was calculated to be 14.2, 12.8 and 7.4 mg m^-2 during premonsoon (February-May), SW monsoon (June-September) and postmonsoon (October-January) respectively. The maximum average (18.0 mg m^-2) was noticed in the Arabian Sea during premonsoon followed by the Bay of Bengal sector during SW monsoon (14.8 mg m^-2) and the Lakshadweep Sea during premonsoon (14.5 mg m^-2). The range of chl-<i>α</i> (0.2 to 100.6 mg m^-2) was found maximum during premonsoon followed by SW monsoon in the euphotic zone of EEZ of India.