Inputs from Indian rivers to the ocean: A synthesis

Abstract

Indian rivers contribute about 4% of the global annual discharge, of which the major rivers contribute 126 x 10 sup(10) m sup(3) y/1 to the Bay of Bengal which is approximately four times that to the Arabian Sea (29.7 x 10 sup(10) m sup(3) y/1). Fluxes of chemical substances to the Indian Ocean from these rivers are computed to a first approximation. The major ion contents are inversely proportional to the river runoff especially for the rivers entering the Arabian Sea. On an average Indian rivers are enriched in major ions, except Na, compared to the average world river. Indian rivers contribute about 7% of TDS flux to world oceans annually