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Variations of chlorophyll-a in the northeastern Indian Ocean after the 2004 South Asian tsunami

par Tang, Danling;Zhao, Hui-Fen;Satyanarayana, Behara ;Zheng, Guangming;Singh, Ramesh Prakash B R.P.;Lv, Jianhai;Yan, Zhongzheng
Référence International journal of remote sensing, 30, 17, page (4553-4565)
Publication Publié, 2009

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

Analysis of satellite remote sensing data has revealed changes in distribution of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature (SST) in the Indian Ocean during the South Asian tsunami in December 2004. Chl-a data derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Sea-viewing Wide Field-ofview Sensor (SeaWiFS) images were examined for the period from 1998 to 2005. Around the epicentre of the Sumatra earthquake, the Chl-a concentrationwas found to increase prior to the main event on 26 December 2004 and then decrease during the tsunami event, while a high SST (~30-31°C) was observed in and around the epicentral region. Chl-a concentrations in the coastal waters of the Southeast Asian countries were remarkably low during and after the tsunami. Similar but relatively small variations inChl-a and SST were observed during the second earthquake on 28 March 2005. Analysis of Chl-a, SST, wind and upwelling water has provided information for understanding the changes in Chl-a concentration during the tsunami. A very large offshore phytoplankton bloom (~300 km2) appeared to the southeast of Sri Lanka about 3 weeks after the tsunami; this might have been caused by a tropical storm that could be responsible for the enhancement of nutrients. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.