CIFT Participated in 7th Indian Expedition to Southern Ocean
An expedition was conducted to Indian sector of southern Ocean by National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa onboard ORV SagarNidhi. CIFT has given a proposal titled “Investigation on the inherent properties of the optically active substances with special reference to phytoplankton size spectra in Southern Ocean”. Dr. P. Muhamed Ashraf is the Principal Investigator. Kum. P. Minu, Research Scholar, INCOIS AdhocProject has participated in the expedition which started from Chennai on 11th January, 2013. The objective of the proposal was to study the phytoplankton absorption based on size fraction and effect of optically active substances on it, Phytoplankton size spectral algorithm validation for the determination of phytoplankton species in Southern ocean waters, Improvement of phytoplankton size spectral algorithms suitable for Southern ocean waters and to make an in-situ bio-optical data base for ocean colour applications in Southern Ocean.
The expedition was for duration of 46 days and covered 20 sampling stations from 40 °S and 56 °S. 10L of water samples were collected from the surface and analysis for various parameters were done. They included Phytoplankton and NAP absorption (fractionisation studies- macro, micro, nano, pico), Chlorophyll a (fractionisation studies- macro, micro, nano, pico), Total Particulate Absorption, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and Total Suspended Matter concentration. The expedition ended on 28th February, 2013 at Mauritius.
Detailed analysis of the samples is in progress in the laboratory. Since many studies are not conducted in situ measurements of Bio-optical properties both apparent and inherent optical properties simultaneously to assess the entire water colour components, the proposed study will be an asset to the world ocean colour component analysis of the southern ocean.
The expedition was for duration of 46 days and covered 20 sampling stations from 40 °S and 56 °S. 10L of water samples were collected from the surface and analysis for various parameters were done. They included Phytoplankton and NAP absorption (fractionisation studies- macro, micro, nano, pico), Chlorophyll a (fractionisation studies- macro, micro, nano, pico), Total Particulate Absorption, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and Total Suspended Matter concentration. The expedition ended on 28th February, 2013 at Mauritius.