Chlorophyll 'a', Particulate Organic Carbon and other environmental parameters were studied along Kerala coast during October 1987 and 1988. High chlorophyll 'a' content at surface water and decreasing trend towards offshore was observed. Spatial gradient in the Chl 'a' and POC distribution exhibited appreciable difference in the nearshore and offshore region. Gaylor and Hopper conditions tested to apply satterfhwaites approximation for unequal sets of sample observations showed that chlorophyll 'a' and environmental parameters except NOz-N varied spatially, while POC and NOz-N diurnally. For total and 60 pm size fractioned chlorophyll 'a' a negative-relation of high gradient with salinity while, for 20 pm size fraction a positive relation of low gradient was observed. Inverse relation was observed between size fractioned chlorophyll 'a' and other parameters.

keywords