Upwelling induced by meso-scale cyclonic eddies in the Andaman Sea

The results from a survey on oceanographic phenomena and fishery resources in the Andaman Sea, under the Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management in the Bay of Bengal Project, initiated by members of BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic cooperation), revealed the evidence of upwelling. It was observed from shallow pycnocline and high salinity near sea surface. The relationship between surface chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and upwelling was prominent that Chl-a tended to be high in upwelling areas. Satellite altimetry and the surface geostropic current captured during the same period of the field survey, suggest that upwelling is induced by cyclonic eddies. This phenomenon could be observed on satellite Chl-a image over the Andaman Sea. Further investigations are required to assess their role in oceanographic processes, especially primary productivity, in the Andaman Sea.Proceedings of 4th JSPS-VAST Joint Seminar on 'Coastal Marine Science', Hai Phong, Viet Nam, 26-28 October 2009Oceanograph