Temporal changes of surface chlorophyll in south of Caspian Sea based on data gained by MODIS of Aqua satellite

ABSTRACT: Caspian Sea is the largest continental water body on earth that is situated in west Asia, east of the Caucasus and north of the Elburz Mountains. In this aquatic ecosystem, food chain beginning with phytoplankton and carnivorous occupying higher tropic levels. Plankton study carried out regularly in north of Caspian Sea but information from south of Caspian is very limitted.The base of food pyramid are phytoplankton, that they have chlorophyll pigments and they could capture some radiant energy and make starch, fat and protein. In this study, surface chlorophyll content in south of Caspian obtained from 2003 until 2009, with use of satellite data (MODIS, Aqua). The results showed that, yearly mean surface chlorophyll content was increased from 2003 until 2009, and there was not any relation between chlorophyll concentration and latitude and altitude. Summer has the highest chlorophyll content and spring has the lowest.