Ijg20120300014 81108057 PDF
Ijg20120300014 81108057 PDF
Ijg20120300014 81108057 PDF
ABSTRACT
In recent years we are observing devastating cyclones like Nargis, Gonu, Sidr, Liala, Phet etc in the North Indian Ocean
associated with heavy rains, thunderstorm, high tide and intense winds that caused shocking destructions in the coastal
areas. As these are originating over the Ocean and propagating towards land, they also change physical property as well
as biological structure of the Ocean. In recent years, several attempts were made to associate tropical cyclone trends
with climate change resulting from green house warming. The studies have indicated an increase in intense cyclones in
the Arabian Sea. Time series analysis of ocean colour data have revealed rapid and profound change in the productivity
pattern over the last few years in the Arabian Sea that appears to be related to the warming trends being experienced
over the Asian subcontinent. In view of the above, a study was carried out to examine the frequency of cyclonic disturbances in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and its effect in modulating the productivity patterns. Data on the
monthly and annual occurrences of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea were collected from
1908 to 2007 from SAARC Meteorological Research Centre and Indian Meteorological Department. Sea surface temperature (SST) from NOAA-AVHRR and phytoplankton biomass indexed as chlorophyll-a concentration from Sea
WiFs for ten years (1998-2007) were used to study the physical and biological effects of cyclonic events in the Arabian
Sea (AS) and the Bay of Bengal (BOB). Analysis of the monthly and annual occurrences of tropical cyclone reveals an
increasing trend of cyclonic disturbances in the AS whereas there is a decreasing trend in the BOB in the last decade
(1998-2007). SST analysis indicates decrease in monthly average SST by 1.5C to 1.75C in the AS and 1.5C to 1.25C
in the BOB in the pre-monsoon season. Phytoplankton biomass was observed to increase by a factor of two after the
passage of cyclone. Results of the ten year analysis and comparison with the climatology showed that frequent occurrence of cyclonic events that cause short term-nutrient enrichment of upper-stratified ocean resulting in enhanced biological productivity and perturbations in the otherwise stable and seasonally-varying ecological structure of the North
Indian Ocean.
Keywords: Cyclonic Events; Arabian Sea; Bay of Bengal; SST; Chlorophyll-a; Ecological Structure.
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Mausam journal published by IMD [16-26]. The information about the path traveled by cyclonic disturbances
was obtained also during 1998 to 2007 in pre-monsoon
and post-monsoon season from Mausam journal [17-26].
Cyclonic disturbances data are categorized into Low
pressure (L), Depression (D), Deep Depression (DD),
Cyclonic Storm (CS), Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS),
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) and Super Cyclone
Storm on the basis of 10 minutes sustained wind speed
(criteria by IMD) [15-26]. Analysis for the study: Annual frequency of 100 years data of tropical cyclone are
tabulated and pooled on a decadal scale in Indian Ocean
Region. 1997-2006, 1987-1996, 1977-1986, 1967-1976,
1957-1966, 1947-1956, 1937-1946, 1927-1936, 1917926, 1907-1916 decades are used. Mean of the tropical
cyclone occurrence in each decade was calculated.
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3. Results
3.1. The Occurrence of Cyclonic Disturbances
(CD) in the BOB and AS
Annual and decadal occurrence of cyclonic disturbances
(CD) in the BOB and AS during 1908 to 2007 is shown
in Figure 1.
The decadal variation shows that in the BOB there
were two complete cycles consisting (1908 to 1957) period and (1957 to 1987) period. But 1908 to 1957 period
in AS did not show remarkable variation and another period 1957 to 1987 in both AS and BOB showed the same
type of trend. But after 1987 BOB showed the decreasing
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Figure 1. (a) Annual occurrence of cyclonic disturbances in the BOB and AS during 1908 to 2007; (b) Decadal occurrence of
cyclonic disturbances in the AS and BOB; (c) Decadal occurrence of cyclonic disturbances in the AS and BOB in the post
monsoon season; (d) Decadal occurrence of cyclonic disturbances in the AS and BOB in the pre-monsoon season.
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Figure 2. (a) Climatology SST variation in April, May and October, November month during 1998-2007 in the North Indian;
(b) Climatology chlorophyll-a variation in April, May and October, November month during 1998-2007 in the North Indian
Ocean.
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Figure 3. The tracks of tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in the pre-monsoon season during 1998 to
2007.
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Figure 4. Mean SST and chlorophyll-a variation along the VSCS in the pre-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea.
Figure 5. Mean SST and chlorophyll-a variation along the SCS in the pre-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea.
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Figure 6. Mean SST and chlorophyll-a variation along the CS in the premonsoon season in the Arabian Sea.
(a)
(b)
Figure 7. The effect of different stages of cyclonic events on SST (a) and chlorophyll-a (b) in the open ocean in the pre-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea.
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Variation in chlorophyll-a
The chlorophyll-a variation during 22 April 2002 to 1
May, 2002 was varying from 0.094 - 0.22 g/m3 across the
storm track (Figure 11). The chlorophyll distribution
along the storm track was averaged from 22 April to 1
May as the variation of chlorophyll was less during this
period and lowering of SST started after 1 May. This
averaged chlorophyll distribution from 22 April to 1 May
was considered as base.
After cyclonic storm the distribution of chlorophyll
during 11 May to 21 May was shown in Figure 10. On
12 May 55E to 61E latitude high chlorophyll was observed. Maximum ~240% increased chlorophyll was
observed on 20 May around 55E longitude. 21 May
Onward the distribution was within the average chlorophyll-a from 22 April 2002 to 1 May 2002.
3.5.2. Special Extension of the Effect of Cyclonic
Disturbances
In order to understand how much area of the basin was
affected by cyclonic storm, two examples of cyclonic
disturbances in the Arabian Sea were discussed. The path
of VSCS, 1999 (Figure 12(a)) was latitude wise whereas
the path of CS, 2002 (Figure 12(b)) was longitude wise.
The SST and chlorophyll-a distribution right and left
side of VSCS, 1999 is shown in Figures 13 and 14.
From 3 degrees right to 8 degrees left from track of
VSCS, 1999 showed low SST along whole path compared to climatology. But high chlorophyll was observed
from 1 degree right to 8 degrees left. The chlorophyll-a
distribution in 2 degrees right and 3 degrees right from
storm track was within the standard deviation (Figure
13(a)). The chlorophyll-a distribution was much higher
in the left side compared to right side of the track VSCS
1999. In 7 degrees left 300% increased chlorophyll was
observed compared to climatology.
Similar observation was observed in case of CS, 2002
also. From 1degree right to 7 degrees left from track of
CS, 2002 showed lower SST along whole path compared
to climatology. From 2 degrees right onward the SST
variation was within the standard deviation. Maximum
150% increased chlorophyll was observed in two degree
left from storm track of CS, 2002.
Analysis of 100 years data showed that there was increasing trend of cyclonic disturbances in AS whereas
there was a decreasing trend in the BOB in last decade
(1998-2007).
Cyclonic disturbances caused an enhanced phytoplankton biomass in the open ocean of upper stratified
water column in the BOB and the AS.
Higher cyclonic wind speed caused high phytoplankton biomass in the North Indian Ocean [10]. But only
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Figure 9. SST variation during pre-cyclone period (from 22 April 2002 to 4 May 2002) along storm track.
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Figure 10. SST variation during post-cyclone period (from 11 May 2002 to 2 May 2002); (b) Along storm track.
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Figure 11. Chlorophyll variation during post-cyclone period (from 11 May 2002 to 21 May 2002) and comparison with average chlorophyll during 22 April, 2002 to 1 May, 2002 along storm track.
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Figure 12. The path of VSCS, 1999 and parallel path from
track from VSCS, 1999 (a). The path of CS, 2002 and parallel path from track of CS, 2002 (b).
storm Yemyin during 25-26 June 2007 [26] in the Arabian Sea. That is why 2000 and 2007 were excluded from
non cyclonic year list.
The effect of VSCS in May 1999, CS in May 2002,
SCS in May 2004 and VSCS in May 2001 in the premonsoon season in the AS was discussed. Among the
four cyclonic disturbances in three cases of 1999, 2002
and 2004 the effect of cyclonic disturbances were observed in monthly image of SST and chlorophyll-a. But
the effect was not seen in May 2001. In May month of
1999, 2002, 2004 the maximum decrease of SST was
observed in monthly scale respectively 1.75C, 1.5C,
and 1.5C whereas the increased of chlorophyll-a was
approximately 150%, 66% and 66% along the storm
track in the AS. The chlorophyll-a distribution also
showed high chlorophyll-a distribution in the left side
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Figure 13. SST distribution right side (a) and left side (b) from storm track of VSCS, 1999.
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Figure 14. Chlorophyll distribution right side (a) and left side (b) from storm track of VSCS, 1999.
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5. Acknowledgements
The authors would also like to thank two anonymous
reviewers for their critical comments and useful suggestions, which helped to improve the manuscript and also
to PoDAC and other sites used for the study.
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