Current Science

Ravi Mishra ¹, D. K. Pandey ¹, P. Ramesh ¹, Ravi Mishra ², Ajeet Kumar ², Prerna Ramesh ², Kishor K. Gaonkar ², A. Pratap ²

Affiliations
1 National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, (Ministry of Earth Science, GoI), Headland Sada, Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa 403 804, IN
2 National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, IN

Abstract

Multibeam swath bathymetry survey was carried out in the middle Indus fan region in the eastern Arabian Sea. Using high-resolution bathymetry data, major morphological features such as the Raman seamount and the Laxmi ridge have been mapped. This study also reveals the presence of sinuous channel systems, continuing towards the distal fan. Though there are several reports on the presence of channels in different regions of the Indus fan, we report here the presence of active channels to the east of the Laxmi ridge. The total length of all channels along the channel axis is about 915 km. The individual spreads of the channels vary from 189.8 to 1980.5 m. Most of the channels are shallow with the average depth measuring about 60 m. The longest channel is about 256.3 km long, 702 m wide and about 57 m deep. The channels observed are similar to the land-based fluvial channels. The channels identified are highly sinuous in nature, their meanders and cut-off meanders are similar to the characteristics of fluvial channels. In general, average channel course in the study area is more than twice the straight course.

Keywords

Active Channel Systems, Bathymetry Survey, Morphological Features, Submarine Fan.

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Ravi Mishra ¹, Amruta Nair ², Mabel Merlin ³, Pratik Pawar ²

Affiliations
1 National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa 403 804, IN
2 S. Ramaseshan Fellow
3 St Mary’s College, Thrissur 680 020, IN

Abstract

Science writing is the art of effectively communicating research. As with any other art form, to excel in science writing, one needs to use imagination to capture interest.

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