Spatio-temporal distributions of delta<sup>18</sup>O, delta D and salinity in the Arabian Sea: Identifying processes and controls
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Date
2013Author
Deshpande, R.D.
Muraleedharan, P.M.
Singh, R.L.
Kumar, B.
Rao, M.S.
Dave, M.
Sivakumar, K.U.
Gupta, S.K.
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Isotopic compositions ( delta<sup>18O</sup> and deltaD) and salinity (S) of 683 surface water samples from the Arabian Sea (AS) collected during 2008–2010, were measured to understand the factors controlling the spatio-temporal distribution of these parameters. From the distributions of delta<sup>18O</sup> and salinity (S), and the relationships between delta<sup>18O</sup>– deltaD and delta<sup>18O</sup>–S, the following inferences have been drawn: (1) there is a broad correspondence between the geographic distributions of the delta<sup>18O</sup> and S; (2) in spite of a large scatter, a statistically significant delta<sup>18O</sup>–S relationship can be identified in much of the investigated part of the AS; (3) the delta<sup>18O</sup>– deltaD regression line for all samples clumped together has a slope of 3.2 (± 0.16), much lower than that (7.37) for the global ocean surface water line (GOSWL), which in the case of the AS is seen only for samples with salinity < 34; (4) the linear relationship between delta<sup>18O</sup> and deltaD breaks down completely in the months of March–May; (5) contrary to the adjoining Bay of Bengal (BOB), both delta<sup>18O</sup> and S progressively increase from the equator northwards; (6) the delta<sup>18O</sup>– deltaD and the delta<sup>18O</sup>–d-excess relationships indicate strong kinetic fractionation due to evaporation from surface waters of the AS throughout the year, with enhancement during summer months.
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