Chemical Oceanography of the Arabian Sea. Part V - Hydrochemical Characteristics Off the Central West Coast of India

Abstract

Data from Arabian Sea cruises 46 (December 1978) and 59 (October 1979) of R V Gaveshani have been used to calculate rates of denitrification at intermediate depths (72-1200 m). About 34% of the available nitrate-nitrogen is depleted by denitrification. The 'standing crop' of denitrified nitrogen is 70 g m-2. Combining the rates of denitrification at an intermediate depth with the photosynthetic productivity at the euphotic zone, the mean residence time of the watermass is between 13 and 54 yr.