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Variations of chlorophyll-a in the northeastern Indian Ocean after the 2004 South Asian tsunami
Tang, L.; Zhao, H.; Satyanarayana, B.; Zheng, M.; Singh, P.; Lv, J.; Yan, Z. (2009). Variations of chlorophyll-a in the northeastern Indian Ocean after the 2004 South Asian tsunami. Int. J. Remote Sens. 30(17): 4553-4565. dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431160802603778
In: International Journal of Remote Sensing. Taylor & Francis: London. ISSN 0143-1161; e-ISSN 1366-5901, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Tang, D.
  • Zhao, H.
  • Satyanarayana, B., more
  • Zheng, G.
  • Singh, R.
  • Lv, J.
  • Yan, Z.

Abstract
    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-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) images were examined for the period from 1998 to 2005. Around the epicentre of the Sumatra earthquake, the Chl-a concentration was 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 in Chl-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.

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