Abstract
Chlorophyll and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and sea surface temperature (SST) are important parameters in assessing the productivity of coastal regions. Numerous rivers flow into the eastern (Ganga, Subernarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Penner, and Kaveri) and western (Narmada, Tapti, and Indus) coasts of the Indian sub-continent. Using IRS P4 (Oceansat-1) Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, we have retrieved chlorophyll, calcite, and SSC near the mouth of these rivers for the period during 2000β2004. The maxima of chlorophyll-a concentrations at the river mouth is much higher for the Himalayan and north India rivers (Ganga, Subernarekha, Mahanadi, and Indus) (10β14 mg/m 3) compared to rivers in the southern parts of India (Kaveri and Penner) (βΌ4 mg/m 3). The maxima of calcite concentration (βΌ45 moles/m 3), chlorophyll (βΌ14 mg/m 3), and sediment concentrations (βΌ9 g/m 3) near river mouth are found to be influenced by river discharges (Ganga and Brahmaputra) during the monsoon season. The calcite concentration (βΌ45 moles/m 3) at the mouth of Ganga river shows a major peak with the onset of monsoon season (JuneβJuly) followed by a maxima in chlorophyll-a with a time lag of 1β2 months. The Krishna, Kaveri, and Penner rivers show low chlorophyll concentrations (3β8 mg/m 3), high calcite (0β40 moles/m 3), and low SSC (<3 g/m 3) compared to Narmada and Tapti rivers (chlorophyll-a 12β14 mg/m 3, calcite 0β2 moles/m 3, and SSC 13β19 g/m 3). The Indus river shows similar behavior (maxima of chlorophyll βΌ13 mg/m 3 and SSC βΌ8 g/m 3) with respect to Ganga river except for high calcite concentration during winter months (βΌ25 moles/m 3). The characteristics of the chlorophyll, calcite, and SSC at the mouth of these rivers show spatial and temporal variability along the eastern and westerns coasts of India which are found to differ widely. A comparison of the chlorophyll concentrations using OCM and MODIS data shows low chlorophyll concentrations in the Bay of Bengal as compared to the Arabian Sea.
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