Characteristics of neritic waters along the west coast of India with respect to upwelling, dissolved oxygen and zooplankton biomass

Abstract

Assuming temperature of the water layer at 50 m depth along the shore as an inverse index of upwelling, zooplankton biomass of the pelagic waters off the west coast of India in relation to upwelling intensity is studied. Productive value of upwelling, is reflected in the abundance of biomass of the total zooplankton. At much higher intensity of upwelling, the waters are very much depleted with respect to dissolved oxygen. Temporal and spatial lag of occurrence of zooplankton with upwelling is noticed in the analysis. Upwelling and plankton production take place earlier in the southern part of the coastline than in the northern.