Distribution of iodate in the south western Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Low concentration of iodate at surface (<i>Ca</i>. 0.2 µ<i>M</i>) and an increase in deeper waters (<i>Ca</i>, 0.55 µ<i>M</i>) were observed in south western Bay of Bengal. A nutrient like behaviour of iodate was also found and phosphate showed that biota plays a major role in surface waters in the iodine system. A mole ratio of NO<img src='/image/spc_char/3_bar.gif' border=0> : PO<img src='http://www.niscair.res.in/jinfo/minusthree.gif' border=0> : IO<img src='/image/spc_char/3_bar.gif' border=0> was found to be 94:10:1. Depletion of iodate, calculated in 2 ways, showed a linear model with the depletion of other nutrients in surface waters (above oxycline) suggesting a direct coupling of iodate with phosphate and nitrate during assimilation and/or regeneration.