A study shows that strong and weak Indian monsoons over the past 22,000 years have affected marine life in the Bay of Bengal.
Marine productivity, which depends on plankton growth, drops when monsoons are unusually strong or weak.
Plankton are the main food source for many sea creatures, so their decline harms the entire marine food chain.
Disruptions in ocean mixing during extreme monsoons reduce the nutrients reaching surface waters, cutting food for marine life by up to 50%.
The Bay of Bengal provides 8% of global fishery production and is vital for millions living along its coast.
Reduced marine productivity threatens fish stocks and food security for coastal communities.
Scientists from India and abroad studied ocean chemicals and plankton fossils to track changes in rainfall and marine life.
They found patterns in ancient climate data that match current climate trends, raising concerns about future monsoon disruptions due to global warming.
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