The JGOFS is a core project of International Biosphere-Geosphere Programme(IGBP) designed to determine and understand on the global-scale, processes controlling the time varying fluxes of carbon and associated biogenic elements in the ocean and to develop capabilities to predict the change in biogenic chemical processes due to climate change. The Indian component of the JGOFS programme was launched in 1993 to estimate the carbon flux in the Arabian Sea. Scientists from National Institute of Oceanography, National Chemical Laboratory, Physical Research Laboratory, Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation are participating in the project. Biological, geochemical and physical oceanography and sediment studies in the Arabian sea have been carried out through 4 multi-disciplinary cruises.

Convective mixing associated with winter cooling has been reportedfor the first time in the Arabian Sea. Surface primary productivity measurements indicate that the rate of primary production in the Arabian Sea is comparable with the observations in the North Atlantic. Studies have also demonstrated that the North Arabian Sea would act as the source of Nitrous Oxide and Methane to the atmosphere, whereas the Central and Eastern Arabian Sea would be a perennial source of CO2 to the atmosphere.