Spatio-temporal variability of hydro-chemical characteristics of coastal waters of Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (GoMMBR), South India

Abstract

The intention of this study was to appraise the spatial and temporal variations in the physico-chemical parameters of coastal waters of Rameswaram Island, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, south India, using multivariate statistical techniques, such as cluster analysis, factor analysis and principal component analysis. Spatiotemporal variations among the physico-chemical parameters are observed in the coastal waters of Gulf of Mannar, especially during northeast and post monsoon seasons. It is inferred that the high loadings of pH, temperature, suspended particulate matter, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll a, nutrient species of nitrogen and phosphorus strongly determine the discrimination of coastal water quality. Results highlight the important role of monsoonal variations to determine the coastal water quality around Rameswaram Island.

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of pollutants in Ennore creek, South-East coast of India.

“…BOD is negatively correlated with DO in all monsoons, positively correlated with TSS, NO3 -, NH4 + , TN, IP and TP during monsoon. It indicates the dilution of organic load due to monsoon and oxidation during pre-monsoon (Kathiravan et al, 2014). A strong positive correlation with NH4 + during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon exists.…”

“…This opening is relatively smaller when compared to pre and post-monsoon width of 200 m & 110 m respectively (Jebakumar et al, 2014). The maximum enrichment of nutrients occurs during monsoon season when compared to pre and post due to the precipitation of pollutant (Kathiravan et al, 2014). …”

Effect of CO2 driven ocean acidification on calcification, physiology and ovarian cells of tropical sea urchin Salmacis virgulata – A microcosm approach

“…The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. The Gulf is noted for religious tourism ( Kathiravan et al., 2017 ), trawl net operations ( AmalaShajeeva et al., 2017 ) and Tuticorin sea port traffic posing a major threat of anthropogenic CO 2 emission and ocean acidification. The mean annual rainfall of the region ranged from 762 mm to 1270 mm ( Neelakantan, 1998 ) and pH from 7.0 to 8.3 ( Anandakumar and Thajuddin 2013 ) respectively.…”