**5. Gulf of Kachchh region**

The diurnal trends of SST in the warmest quarter over a period from 2010 to 2020 provided information on the direction of changes in SST. The BT value for the Gulf of Kachchh region was observed 29.85° C (± 0.45° C) means 0.5° C above the thermal threshold value (**Figure 2**). Over a period from 2010 to 2020, it was observed that the SST value during the warmest quarter had crossed the BT in each year. The maximum SST 31.54° C has been recorded in the year 2015, while the minimum SST 29.97° C has been recorded in the year 2012. During the year 2020, the SST values crossed the thermal as well as BT values and persisted for more than three months. In the same year, the monitoring period was extended up to mid-August. This study also computed and showed variations of daily SST anomaly. The absolute range of positive anomaly for the Gulf of Kachchh region varied between 0.01° C to 2.2° C, and a maximum of 2.2° C was recorded in 2015. The frequency and intensity of positive anomaly have increased continuously over the region. The range of DHW was found to be 0.5° C to 14.26° C, and the maximum was recorded in the year 2020, whereas the minimum was recorded in the year 2012. The "Alert Level-2" status was recorded in 2020, while the "Alert Level-1" status was recorded in 2010. The year 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019 were recorded "Warning" status.
