Near and distant connection of atmospheric systems to ocean temperature change in the coastal California Current region

In studying hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere interactions, it is useful to focus on specific subsystem processes and energy exchanges (forcing). Since subsystem scales range over ten orders of magnitude, it may be difficult to focus research on scales that will yield useful results in terms of establishing causal and predictive connections between more easily and less easily observed subsystems. In an effort to find pertinent scales, we have begun empirical investigations into relationships between atmospheric, oceanic, and biological systems having spatial scales exceeding 10^3 kilometers and temporal scales of six months or more.

Mechanisms of upper-ocean thermal variability in a 1970-1988 simulation and observations

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Variations in temperature that occurred in the North Pacific thermocline (250 to 400 meters) during the 1970s and 1980s are described in both a numerical simulation and XBT observations.

Decadal patterns in atmospheric carbon dioxide as indicators of changing growth and decay of terrestrial vegetation [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Large-scale changes in the growth and decay of land plants can be deduced from trends in the concentration of atmospherics [sic] carbon dioxide, after removing signals in the recorded data caused by oceanic and industrial disturbances to the concentration.

Offshore coho salmon populations near the Pacific Northwest and large-scale atmospheric events

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Catch of coho salmon off the coast of Washington and Oregon since 1925 appears to be related to large-scale events in the atmosphere, which in turn affect ocean currents and coastal upwelling intensities in the northeastern Pacific. At least two time scales of variations can be identified. The first is that of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon giving rise to an irregular cycle of between 3 to 7 years. ... The second time scale of variation seems to have a periodicity of about 20 years, although this is based on a limited dataset. ... This paper endeavors to describe how, if real, these atmospheric/oceanic effects are integrated and might affect the salmon catch. The possibility must also be considered that the atmospheric events are symbiotically related to the oceanic events and, further, that both may be enmeshed in even longer-term variability of climate.

Integrating varve and tree-ring time series for southern California climate reconstruction: a 20th century outlook [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Our objective is to combine terrestrial and oceanic records for reconstructing West Coast climate. Tree rings and marine laminated sediments provide high-resolution, accurately dated proxy data on the variability of climate and on the productivity of the ocean and have been used to reconstruct precipitation, temperature, sea level pressure, primary productivity, and other large-scale parameters. We present here the latest Santa Barbara basin varve chronology for the twentieth century as well as a newly developed tree-ring chronology for Torrey pine.

Contribution of zooplankton to the fishery potential of some environments

Difference in zooplankton production in estuarine, coastal and oceanic realms of the Indian Ocean has been correlated to the fishery potential of the concerned area. In the estuarine habitat the estimated rate of secondary production can not sustain a fishery of the present magnitude. Direct correlation between fish landing and zooplankton is observed in the coastal waters. Compared to coastal waters zooplankton standing stock is low in the open ocean and this low production is compensated by a wider area. The estimated fishery potential of the ocean is much more than what is being exploited.

Record catch of rock perch, Epinephelus fasciatus by bottom trawling off Ratnagiri

A productive fishing ground for rock perch (Epinephelus fasciatus) was located off Ratnagiri between 17 degree 00' to 17 degree 10' N latitude and 72 degree 20' to 72 degree 30' E longitude, around a depth of 96m during November, 1983. An average catch of 2 ton/hr. was recorded. Length frequency studies of E. fasciatus indicate the probability of a nursery ground consisting of three brood stocks. Hydrographic studies of the ground revealed that the bottom water was oxygen deficient below a strong thermocline extending from 15-75 m depth with the recorded bottom temperature amounting to 20.5 degree C.

A multivariate statistical study with a factor analysis of recent planktonic foraminiferal distribution in the Coromandel Coast of India

A study of planktonic foraminiferal assemblages from 19 stations in the neritic and oceanic regions off the Coromandel Coast, Bay of Bengal has been made using a multivariate statistical method termed as factor analysis. On the basis of abundance, 17 foraminiferal species, species were clustered into 5 groups with row normalisation and varimax rotation for Q-mode factor analysis. The 19 stations were also grouped into 5 groups with only 2 groups statistically significant using column normalisation and varimax rotation for R-mode analysis. This assemblage grouping method is suitable because groups of species/stations can explain the maximum amount of variation in them in relation to prevailing environmental conditions in the area of study.

Humic acids in sediments of North-Central Arabian Sea, west coast of India

Sediment samples (28) collected during the ORV Sagar Kanya cruise-29, were analysed for humic acid (HA) concentration from the North-Central Arabian Sea. Generally oceanic samples had more HA concentration than the continental shelf (< 200 m depth) samples. The photo-acoustic infrared spectra of shelf sediment HA indicated the presence of more C-H saturated aliphatic chains, while oceanic HA had few peaks for the above groups. Both the IR spectra indicated the absence of aromatic C = C, carbonyl, ketonic groups. Clayey-silt sediment generally had higher concentration of HA compared to sandy-silt type of sediment.

Biochemical composition of zooplankton from the northern Arabian Sea

Zooplankton standing crop and proximate principals were estimated for 8 coastal and 13 oceanic stations of the northern Arabian Sea during March 1991. Biomass did not show any significant difference (p < 0.05) between coastal and oceanic waters. Protein was the principal biochemical component among proximate principals with an average value of 29.6% in coastal and 34.2% in the oceanic zone, suggesting that protein form a major metabolic reserve. Other components such as lipids and carbohydrate seem to be low in tropical zooplankton. The organic carbon and caloric density did not show significant correlation. Average caloric density was 2.5 k.cal super(-1). The average standing stock was 9.25 mg m super(-3) and 5.90 mg m super(-3) for coastal and oceanic water, respectively. Coastal region is more productive than oceanic region in terms of standing crop, as expected.

New evidences on the distribution of predatory pelagic sharks in the tuna grounds of the Indian Ocean

Since the commencement of the exploitation of oceanic tuna resources of the Indian Ocean seventeen years ago, the hooked rates for the tuna species have declined in many areas of the Ocean but there are no evidences of such a trend in the case of the sharks. As a result, the percentage composition of sharks in the longline catches and the percentage of the tuna catch damaged by sharks show an increase. Hence there is an urgent need for innovation of the existing longline gear in order to increase the fishing efficiency for hooking the tuna species with a corresponding reduction in its efficiency for hooking sharks. At the beginning of this fishery, hooked sharks were discarded at sea, at a later stage the liver and fins were taken and the carcass discarded and presently the sharks are also brought along with the tuna catch. Though the shark meat has a very low market value it is brought in order to cover up for the declining tuna catches. Thus it has become very necessary to increase the demand for shark meat by developing products or by-products utilizing shark meat and ensuring the successful continuity of the tuna longline fishery. The pattern of distribution of shark species in the time grounds of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans and also the predation of hooked tunas by sharks were discussed earlier (Sivasubranianiam 1963, 1964 and 1966). Some contribution to these studies is made in this paper based on new data become available.

Skipjack tuna (K. pelamis, L.) resources in the seas around Ceylon

Details are given of the source and processing of data, size composition, seasonal variation in occurrence, abundance and oceanic potential of Katsuwonus pelamis resources in the seas around Sri Lanka. The indirect evidences are indicative of the presence of skipjack resource in the oceanic range around the island, particularly the south and west of Sri Lanka.

A report on a survey with the r/v "Ernst Haeckel" in July-August 1980: shallow-water shrimp and by-catch, oceanography

A survey of the Sofala Bank (Mozambique) was conducted to: estimate the abundance of shallow-water shrimp in the area between 16 degree 20'S and 20 degree 20'S, from 5 to 100 meters; estimate the shallow-water shrimp species composition and distribution pattern of main species. Collect biological data of the main species, Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus monoceros; study the shrimp by-catch, species composition and biological data collection of the most abundant species of commercial value; and collect environmental data to clarify the shelf circulation on the Sofala Bank and the main oceanic features in the regions 15 degree S to 18 degree S and south of 22 degree S.

Restricted water exchange in the Negombo Lagoon on the west coast of Sri Lanka

Salinity, fresh water and sea level data from the Negombo Lagoon with respect to oceanic sea level and salinity data were considered. The open ocean spring tidal range was 0.57 m, whereas the neap tidal range was 0.10 m. In lagoon, the corresponding spring tidal range was 0.13 m and neap tidal range is 0.05 m. The lagoon tide was strongly choked because of the restricted inlet channel, through which only a limited water exchange could take place over a tidal cycle. Mean water exchange and the residence times for variable fresh water supplies were calculated. These calculations were based on fortnightly measurements of salinity and river discharges in 1993. During this year, salinity varied from 30-5‰ depending on the river inputs which were 20-225 m³ sˉ¹. Corresponding residence times varied from 11-2 days and the tide is dominated the exchange during low discharges of freshwater.