Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Recent advances in specific aspects of coastal oceanographic studies in India and their futurology.

Volume 37 Issue 1&2

A. V. S. Murty

Abstract

Remarkably enough the recent studies of Indian coastal water upwelling brought to light the limitations of the exciting theoretical knowledge of the coastal water upwelling. The error in the Ekman spiral –based explanation of coastal water upwelling was pointed out. Intensification of the western boundary currents of the world oceans and the formations of upwelling on the eastern boundary were intuitively coupled probably leading to the concept of combining the 1-dimensional Ekman theory with the 2- dimensional Stommel theory for the integrated physical picture of both the conditions at the boundaries. It was also pointed out that the upward currents in upwelling would terminate at the core of the stable thermocline, instead of generally believed termination at the sea surface.

A concept of three-phase sediment particles with different viscosity properties in the suspended mud of the mudbanks was postulated to explain the tranquillity of mudbanks. This concepts was expected to generate interest in marine engineers to design and fabricate suitable devices for artificial creation of mudbanks for improvement in fisheries.

The recent studies in India on coastal water pollution were described and the need for dynamic studies of pollutants was stressed.

Indian efforts for making use of the remote sensing technology for coastal water information were projected and the futurology of the art of this novel technique in Indian climatic conditions was hinted.

Date : 30-12-1995