Climate Change Impact on the Southwest Monsoon Modulated Freshwater Pulsation and Consequent Nutrient Flux Variability in the Continental Shelf of the Northern Indian Ocean

Bay of Bengal compartment of northern Indian Ocean is one of the high productive areas of the world oceans where high organic carbon fluxes of more than 3 g m^–2y^–1 have been recorded. Thermal and dynamic influence of Tibetan Plateau to north of BOB affects climatic modulation of organic matter fluxes through Ganges-Brahmaputra to BOB continental shelf. In the light of Brahmaputra-Ganges system carrying a high CNP load (computed as 6.24 x 10⁶ tons C/year, 8.5 x 10⁵ tons N/year, 8.4 x 10⁴ tons P/year) to the shelf, uncertainty about future effect on ecological and biogeochemical processes of Indian Ocean is increasing. The magnitude and direction of climate change impact could be significant both in relative and absolute terms. The future of biogeochemistry of Indian Ocean may be impacted significantly by the modified coupled C-N-P cycles since its role in evolution of marine ecosystem of Indian Ocean could be critical.