Hydro-Chemical Evolution of Palk Strait Region, Bay of Bengal

Analysis was carried out on the physico-chemical parameters measured at two stations, Thondi and Soliyakudi in the southeast Palk Strait region during the monsoon and post monsoon seasons (November 2008 – March 2009). High temperature (31˚C) and salinity (35%o) were recorded in the month of March (post monsoon). During the monsoonal season, dissolved oxygen content was found to be high (5.2 O2 mg l-1) and the total phosphorous concentration when compared to other nutrients such as NO3, NO2 and SiO2, was also high in both the stations. In general, concentrations of all the nutrients were high in Thondi during the monsoon season (November and December) which could be due to the addition of nutrients through the sewage, agricultural and land run off