Seasonal controls on surface pCO₂ in the central and eastern Arabian Sea

V.V.S.S. Sarma, M. Dileep Kumar, M. Gauns and M. Madhupratap

National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India

Abstract. The variability in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂) and its control by biological and physical processes in the upper 60 m layer of the central and eastern Arabian Sea during intermonsoon, northeast monsoon, and southwest monsoon seasons were studied. Significant seasonal variability was found in pCO₂ levels. The observed pCO₂ relations with temperature, oxygen, chlorophyll a and primary production revealed that its distribution is largely regulated by physical processes during southwest monsoon and winter whereas both physical and biological processes are important in intermonsoon.