Some Trends in Indian Oceanographic Research Publications (1963-1992)

The bibliometric analysis of 2475 Indian oceanographic research contributions and 38886 references cited by them was undertaken. The data was compiled using CDS/ISIS software. The analysis was carried out by developing CDS/ISIS Pascal programmes for oceanography as a single multidisciplinary subject as well as for each discipline in oceanography. Subject-wise distribution, forms of contributions and references cited, authorship pattern, non-texual characteristics were the parameters used for analysis. A shift in the number of contributions among the disciplines of oceanography, the forms of documents as the communication channel and even the items cited is noticed over a period of three decades. The increase in the number of scientists did not proportionately yield the number of contributions. Single authored contributions tend to decrease as in other disciplines. The number of Tables and Figures in contributions are yet to stabilise. The results could be applied in the development of information systems.