T. K. Jana

Seasonal effects on the air–water carbon dioxide exchange in the Hooghly estuary, NE coast of Bay of Bengal, India

Monthly variation of CO2 fugacity (fCO2) in surface water and related atmospheric exchanges were measured in the Hooghly estuary which is one of the most important estuaries, since it is fed by one of the worlds largest rivers, the Ganges with a flow of 15,646 m3 s-1 (1.6% of the worlds combined river flow). Carbon dioxide fluxes averaged over the entire estuary are in the range of -2.78 to 84.4 mmol m-2 d-1. This estuary acts as a sink for CO2 during monsoon months and seasonal variation of its flux is controlled by dilution of seawater by river water. Since the solubility of CO2 and the disassociation of carbonic acid in estuarine water are controlled by temperature and salinity, the observed variations of CO2 fluxes are compared with those predicted from seasonal changes in temperature, salinity and the ratio of gross primary production to community respiration using empirical equations with an explained variability of 55%.

Impact of Sundarban mangrove biosphere on the carbon dioxide and methane mixing ratios at the NE Coast of Bay of Bengal, India

Abstract Diurnal and seasonal variations in carbon dioxide and methane fluxes between Sundarban biosphere and atmosphere were measured using micrometeorological method during 1998–2000. Study of the diurnal variation of micrometeorological conditions in the atmosphere was found to be necessary to determine the duration of neutral stability when flux estimation was reliable. Neutral stability of the atmosphere occurred in the limited micrometeorological conditions, when friction velocity ranged between 0.360 and 0.383 m s −1 . The value of drag coefficient (1.62–20.6)×103 obtained at variable wind speed could be deemed specific for this particular surface. 58.2% drop of carbon dioxide and 63.4% drop of methane in the atmosphere at 1 m height were observed during day time, between dawn and early evening. Diurnal variations in methane and carbon dioxide mixing ratios showed a positive correlation with Richardsons number (Ri). This environment acted as a net source for carbon dioxide and methane. The mixing ratios of methane were found to vary between 1.42 and 2.07 ppmv , and that of carbon dioxide, between 324.3 and 528.7 ppmv during the study period. The biosphere–atmosphere flux of carbon dioxide ranged between −3.29 and 34.4 mg m −2 s −1 , and that of methane, between −4.53 and 8.88 μg m −2 s −1 . The overall annual estimate of carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from this ecosystem to atmosphere were estimated to be 694 Tg yr −1 and 184 Gg yr −1 , respectively. Considerable variations in mixing ratios of carbon dioxide and methane at the NE coast of Bay of Bengal were observed due to the seasonal variations of their fluxes from the biosphere to the atmosphere. The composition was inferred by fitting model prediction to measurements.

Biogeochemical controls of arsenic occurrence and mobility in the Indian Sundarban mangrove ecosystem

This study aims to investigate the control of arsenic distribution by biogeochemical processes in the Indian Sundarban mangrove ecosystem and the importance of this ecosystem as an arsenic source for surrounding coastal water. The As(V)/As(III) ratio was found to be significantly lower in both surface and pore waters compared to sea water, which could be attributed to biogeochemical interconversion of these arsenic forms. The biological uptake of arsenic due to primary and benthic production occurs during the post-monsoon season, and is followed by the release of arsenic during the biochemical degradation and dissolution of plankton in the pre-monsoon season. These results suggest that arsenic is immobilized during incorporation into the arsenic-bearing initial phase, and unlikely to be released into pore water until the complete microbial degradation of arsenic-bearing organic compounds.

Formation, transformation, and removal of aerosol over a tropical mangrove forest

[1] A comprehensive size-segregated characterization of the chemical properties (watersoluble inorganic fraction) of the sea-salt aerosol originated from the surf zone at the land-ocean boundary of Sundarban Mangrove forest, NE coast of Bay of Bengal, and an analysis of the relevant meteorological parameters revealed how the combined effect of anthropogenic gases and aerosol advected to the virgin mangrove forest and micrometeorological conditions could change the marine character of the aerosol before the onset of SW monsoon. The average aerosol mass concentration was 99.94 ± 41.9 μg m -3 with production rate of 0.19 μg m -2 s -1 (during January) to 4.29 μg m -2 s -1 (during April) and dry deposition rate of 0.019 μg m -2 s -1 (during January) to 13.21 μg m -2 s -1 (during June). 72.35% of the total aerosol mass was leachable by water, and relatively large concentrations of phosphorus were observed. More chloride depletion from the coarse (2.0 2.0 μm. Distributions of Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , NH + 4 , Cl - , NO 2 , NO 3 , SO 2- 4 , and PO 3- 4 in different size modes were considered to collate their source apportionment. The proximity of Calcutta and Haldia metropolis to the mangrove forest could influence the forest air quality and depositional processes.

Interactions of Cu (II) and Fe (III) with mangal humic substances studied by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and potentiometric titration

Humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids isolated from mangrove sediments of Sundarban, the largest delta on earth in the estuarine phase of the river Ganges, were studied and attempts were made to characterize their binding sites by quenching of Synchronous fluorescence (SyF) bands with Fe (III) and Cu (II). A modified Stern-Volmer relationship applicable for static quenching was applied for the determination of conditional stability constants and the data were compared with those determined by potentiometric titration. In the excited state HA and FA showed different acidity constant compared to the ground state. Values of the conditional stability constant (log Kc) for Fe (III) and Cu (II) indicated that binding sites were bidentate in nature. FA were better chelators than the HA fractions. High energy binding sites of both FA & HA were occupied by Fe(III) and the low energy binding sites, mainly responsible for mobilization and immobilization of metal, were occupied by Cu(II).

Improved model calculation of atmospheric CO 2 increment in affecting carbon stock of tropical mangrove forest

Because of the difficulties in setting up arrangements in the intertidal zone for free-air carbon dioxide enrichment experimentation, the responses to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide in mangrove forests are poorly studied. This study applied box model to overcome this limitation, and the relative changes in present level of reservoirs organic carbon contents in response to the future increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide were examined in the Avicennia-dominated mangrove forest at the land–ocean boundary of the northeast coast of the Bay of Bengal. The above- and below-ground biomass (AGB+BGB) and sediment held different carbon stock (53.20±2.87Mg C ha−1 (mega gram carbon per hectare) versus 18.52±2.77Mg C ha−1). Carbon uptake (0.348mg C m−2s−1) is more than offset by losses from plant emission (0.257mg C m−2s−1), and litter fall (13.52µg C m−2s−1) was more than soil CO2 and CH4 emission (8.36 and 1.39µg C m−2s−1, respectively). Across inventory plots, Sundarban mangrove forest carbon storage in above- and below-ground live trees and soil increased by 18.89 and 5.94Mg C ha−1 between June 2009 and December 2011. Box model well predicted the dynamics of above- and below-ground biomass and soil organic carbon, and increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations could be the cause of 1.1- and 1.57-fold increases in carbon storage in live biomass and soil, respectively, across Sundarban mangrove forest rather than recovery from past disturbances.

Contribution from the primary and secondary sources to the atmospheric formaldehyde in Kolkata, India

A novel and straight forward method is adopted to segregate the contribution of primary and secondary sources of formaldehyde based on the rates of its formation and removal at different times in the urban atmosphere of Kolkata. To achieve the above objective, the diurnal and seasonal mixing ratios of formaldehyde were measured during dry season at two busy roadside locations. The maximal secondary formation fluxes of formaldehyde during summer and winter were found to be 6.63 x 10(7) and 1.23 x 10(7) molecules cm(-3) s(-1), respectively. Apart from formaldehyde (C(1)), several other carbonyls were quantified in this study. An overall good correlation between acetaldehyde (C(2)) and propanal (C(3)) indicates the contribution of vehicular emission to the carbonyl budget. The secondary formaldehyde contributions in summer and winter were about 71% and 32%, respectively. The relative mean contributions of C(1), C(2) and ozone towards generation of OH fluxes in summer were found to be 1.56 x 10(7), 6.96 x 10(5), and 1.29 x 10(7)molecules cm(-3) s(-1), respectively, which were 3.2, 3.4 and 1.6 times higher than those in winter.

Implication of organic matter on arsenic and antimony sequestration in sediment: evidence from Sundarban mangrove forest, India.

This study reports the measurement of stability constants for the interaction of As (V and III) and Sb (V and III) with humic substances extracted from aquatic sediments of the Sundarban mangrove forest ecosystem. It was observed that As and Sb formed a slightly more stable association with fulvic acid (FA) than with its humic acid (HA) counterpart. Quenching of fluorescence at increasing As (III and V) or Sb (III and V): FA or HA ratios was obtained that ideally correspond to a 1:1 complexation model. Quite strong complexation of As and Sb by FA and HA occurs at neutral pH, indicating that HA and FA probably markedly affect the mobility of As and Sb in the mangrove environment.

Intra-Annual Variation of Modern Foraminiferal Assemblage in a Tropical Mangrove Ecosystem in India

This study relates the abundance of foraminifera with the fluctuations in hydrobiological characteristics generated by the monsoonal cycle in a tropical mangrove ecosystem. Monthly variation of physicochemical properties of water and sediment, phytoplankton production, foraminiferal assemblages were measured in the littoral zone of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Intra-annual variation of foraminifera exhibited a maximum abundance during the post-monsoon period and out of the 25 genera, numbers of calcareous and agglutinated forms were 16 and 9, respectively. Live benthic foraminifera were found to inhabit a wide range of sediment depths and inhabiting a high energy environment their abundance was not restricted to the uppermost centimeter. Owing to mechanical damage (due to high energy system), chemical dissolution and intense bioturbation, the taphonomic processes in this mangrove swamp could result in the destruction of the small size fraction of foraminifera, including agglutinated tests. The low numbers of agglutinated foram could be due to silty clay substrate. Abundance of more calcareous dead specimens over live ones could be attributed to predation and transportation of dead marine species. Most of the marine species could not survive in this freshwater dominated system. Anthropogenic nutrient input and diatom bloom in association with enhanced food to benthos are important controlling factors on foraminiferal abundance and composition.

Microbial Ecosystem in Sunderban Mangrove Forest Sediment, North-East Coast of Bay of Bengal, India

This is the first documentation of seasonal and spatial fluctuation of the culturable microbial population collected from different zones in the sediment of the Sunderban mangrove forest. The population of cellulose degrading bacteria, [mean value of CFU 6.189 ± 1.025 × 106 (g dry weight of sediment)−1] was found to be maximum during post monsoon in the deep forest region, whereas, the fungal population [mean value of CFU 3.424 ± 0.886 × 106 (g dry weight of sediment)−1] was found to be maximum during pre-monsoon in the rooted region. The abundances of microbes, in decreasing order, studied from different zones are nitrifying bacteria [mean value of CFU 1.125 ± 0.359 × 106 (g dry weight of sediment)−1], phosphorous solubilizing bacteria (PSB) [mean value of CFU 0.805 ± 0.322 × 106 (g dry weight of sediment)−1], free living nitrogen fixing bacteria [mean value of CFU 0.417 ± 0.120 × 106 (g dry weight of sediment)−1] and sulfur reducing bacteria (SRB) [mean value of CFU 0.356 ± 0.125 × 106 (g dry weight of sediment)−1]. The content of organic carbon in the soil decreased from the deep forest region to the rooted and unrooted region but a reverse profile was found for soil salinity and soil silicate concentration. The results from the present study indicate that the monsoon cycle has a pronounced effect on the microbially dominated biogeochemistry in the sediment and consequently on the ecology of the Sundarban mangrove forest.