Chlorophyll modulation of sea surface temperature in the Arabian Sea in a mixed-layer isopycnal general circulation model

Remotely sensed chlorophyll pigment concentrations from the Coastal Zone Co lor Scanner (CZCS) are used to estimate biological heating rate and investi gate the biological modulation of the sea surface temperature (SST) in a bu lk mixed layer model, embedded in the ocean isopycnal general circulation m odel (OPYC). A higher abundance of chlorophyll in October than in April in the Arabian Sea increases absorption of solar irradiance and heating rate i n the upper ocean, resulting in decreasing the mixed layer thickness and lo wering temperatures in the layers below the mixed layer than they would be under clear water condition. These changes in the model mixed layer were co nsistent with Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) observations during the 1994-1995 Arabian Sea experiment.