5-9Variations
in particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate humic material (PHM) were
studied in winter (February-March 1995) and intermonsoon (April-May 1994)
seasons in the Arabian Sea. Higher levels of
POC were found
in the north
than in the southeastern side of the Arabian Sea close to the coast caused by
higher biological production as a consequence of winter overturning. The PHM
showed significant aggregation between 100 and 200 m during winter and was
negligibly low towards north and relatively more towards south indicating
accumulation of humic material. In contrast, PHM occurred in north than in
south in intermonsoon. The north south trends could be seen in POC and PHM
along 64°E in the Arabian Sea. The POC levels
were lower in the Central Arabian Sea in
winter, than in intermonsoon, its concentration increasing slightly towards
north in accordance with the microzooplakton and bacterial production. The
abundance of PHM seems to be related to the intensity of biological activity,
the nature of organic material and the spatial and temporal
variations in biochemical
conditions.</span