Concentrations and burial fluxes of organic and inorganic carbon on the eastern margins of the Arabian Sea

Eleven sediment cores were analysed from the continental margins of the eastern Arabian Sea (22°N to ∼10°N) for organic carbon (C org), nitrogen (N) and CaCO 3 contents. Similar variations are observed in both lateral and the vertical (15°N) could be most likely due to redeposition of material from shelf and slope regions as well as influx of detrital carbonates from coastal areas. The inverse correlation observed in C org and CaCO 3 distribution is indicative of post-depositional effects due to sulphate reduction associated processes. This can lead to dissolution of CaCO 3 and a better preservation of C org due to faster deposition rate and higher detrital (clay) content. The BF and paleoproductivity calculated using the transfer function of Sarnthein et al. [Miner. Soc. Spec. Publ. 64 (1992) 411] show increasing trend between ∼10 and ∼2 ka with a significant periodicity of 3000 a corresponding to that observed for monsoon-induced productivity.