Surface layer temperature inversion in the Arabian Sea during winter

Surface layer temperature inversion in the south eastern Arabian Sea, during winter has been studied using Bathythermograph data collected from 1132 stations. It is found that the inversion in this area is a stable seasonal feature and the occurrence is limited to the coastal waters. The inversion layer is found to have thickness varying from 10 to 80 meters and gradient of 0.0–1.2°C. The causative factor for the inversion is identified to be the winter-time surface-advection of cold less saline Bay of Bengal water over the warm saline Arabian Sea water along the west coast of India. Finally, the possible forcing mechanism for such an advection was examined using a hydrographic section and wind observations along the west coast of India.     

Spatiotemporal variations of the δ18O–salinity relation in the northern Indian Ocean

A new data set of oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O) and salinity (S) of surface and sub-surface waters of the northern Indian Ocean, collected during the period 1987–2009, is presented. While the results are consistent with positive P?E (excess of precipitation over evaporation) over the Bay of Bengal and negative P?E over the eastern Arabian Sea, a significant spatiotemporal variability in the slope (also intercept) of the δ¹⁸O–S relation is observed in the Bay; the temporal variability is difficult to discern in the Arabian Sea. The slope and intercept are positively and negatively correlated, respectively, with the annual rainfall over India, a rough measure of river runoff. Both the slope and intercept appear to be sensitive to rainfall; the slope (intercept) is higher (lower) during years of stronger monsoon. The observed variability in the δ¹⁸O–S relation implies that caution needs to be exercised in paleosalinity estimations, especially from the Bay of Bengal, based on δ¹⁸O of marine organisms.     

阿拉伯海东南海域盐度收支的季节变化

采用SODA海洋同化产品的月平均资料,本文分析了阿拉伯海东南海域表层盐度的季节变化特征,发现局地海面淡水通量不能解释盐度的变化。两个典型区域的表层海水盐度收支分析表明,海洋的平流输送是造成阿拉伯海东南海域盐度冬季降低、夏季升高的主要原因,而淡水通量仅在夏季印度西侧沿岸区域造成盐度降低。冬季,东北季风环流将孟加拉湾北部的低盐水沿同纬度输送到阿拉伯海,然后向北输送,使表层海水盐度降低;夏季,西南季风环流把阿拉伯海西北部的高盐水向南、向东输送,使阿拉伯海东南海域盐度升高。受地理位置因素的影响,阿拉伯海东南海域表层盐度的变化冬季明显强于夏季。     

Monsoonal impact on circulation pathways in the Indian Ocean

Monsoon driven water mass exchange between the Bay of Bengal(Bo B) and Arabian Sea(AS) is the common experience. However, it is not yet firmly confirmed that the exchange pathway is either passing through southern tip of Sri Lanka or Palk Strait. Local circulation patterns impact the pathways followed by the East Indian Coastal Currents(EICC) that drive exchange, thereby modulating mixing and water mass transformation in the Bay of Bengal around Sri Lanka. In this study, observations from surface drifters were incorporated with the satellite derived data to understand the monsoonal impact on circulation patterns in the Indian Ocean. This was the first multi-national scientific effort which was conducted in the Bo B and AS during 2013 to 2015 to understand the monsoonal impact on circulation patterns in the complex region. The results indicated that seasonally reversing monsoonal currents of southern Sri Lanka, traced by the wintertime freshwater export pathways of the EICC. The deflection of monsoon currents running along the east coast of Sri Lanka by forming cyclonic and anti-cyclonic eddies, which influence the mixing and stirring associated with these flows. Results further indicate the low salinity cold water flows from the Bo B to AS along the western boundary of the Bo B during northeast monsoon. In the same way, reverses the phenomena during southwest monsoon, transporting high salinity warm water from AS to the Bo B. This maintain the bay status which occurred due to freshwater influx from large rivers and high saline water from AS. However, no evidences were observed for the exchange through Palk Strait during the study.Also, there are some mis-matches in in-situ and remotely sensed measurements which imply the necessity of systematic observation system for the complex region as an alternative approach.     

Observed Variability of Thermohaline Fields,Currents and Eddies in the Western Bay of Bengal During BOBMEX-99

Field measurements during the Bay of Bengal Monsoon Experiment (BOBMEX-99), data from a deep sea moored buoy, and satellite altimeter were used to describe variability in the hydrographic and meso-scale features in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) during the summer monsoon of 1999. The thermohaline fields showed two regions of upsloping of isopleths centered at 82°E and 84.75°E, ～110 km and 450 km away from the coast, respectively, followed by downsloping. The upsloping/downsloping of isopleths and the alternating currents was part of cyclonic and anti-cyclonic circulation patterns in the western BoB. In this region, both wind and current were important in the dynamics of coastal upwelling. The observations showed a relationship between the propagating waves and eddy on variability of thermohaline fields. On an annual cycle, four Kelvin waves were observed in the BoB, but only the downwelling Kelvin wave formed during October entered the Arabian Sea. During the monsoon season, four eddies were formed in the western BoB, of which the anticyclonic eddy centered at 15°N, 84°E and the cyclonic eddy centered at 17.5°N, 84.5°E were prominent. The baroclinic instability caused by the opposing currents along the east coast and the wind stress curl favored the formation of eddies. Okhubo-Weiss and Isern-Fontanet parameter confirmed the presence of eddies in the BoB.     

Structure and mechanisms of the Arabian Sea variability during the winter monsoon

In the southern Arabian Sea (between the Equator and 10°N), the shoaling of isotherms at subsurface levels (20 °C isotherm depth is located at ∼90 m) leads to cooling at 100 m by 2–3 °C relative to surrounding waters during the winter monsoon. The annual and interannual variations of this upwelling zone, which we call the Arabian Sea dome (ASD), are studied using results from an eddy-permitting ocean general circulation model in conjunction with hydrography and TOPEX/ERS altimeter data. The ASD first appears in the southeastern Arabian Sea during September–October, maturing during November–December to extend across the entire southern Arabian Sea (along ∼5°N). It begins to weaken in January and dissipates by March in the southwestern Arabian Sea. From the analysis of heat-budget balance terms and a pair of model control experiments, it is shown that the local Ekman upwelling induced by the positive wind-stress curl of the winter monsoon generates the ASD in the southeastern Arabian Sea. The ASD decays due to the weakening of the cyclonic curl of the wind and the westward penetration of warm water from the east (Southern Arabian Sea High). The interannual variation of the ASD is governed by variations in the Ekman upwelling induced by the cyclonic wind-stress curl. Associated with the unusual winds during 1994–1995 and 1997–1998 Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) periods, the ASD failed to develop. In the absence of the ASD during the IOD events, the 20 °C isotherm depth was 20–30 m deeper than normal in the southern Arabian Sea resulting in a temperature increase at 97 m of 4–5 °C. An implication is that the SST evolution in the southern Arabian Sea during the winter monsoon is primarily controlled by advective cooling: the shoaling of isotherms associated with the ASD leads to SST cooling.     

Spectral wave characteristics off Gangavaram,Bay of Bengal

Spectral wave characteristics were studied based on waves measured for 1 year during 2010 off Gangavaram, Bay of Bengal. Maximum wave height of 5.2 m was observed on 19 May 2010 due to the influence of cyclonic storm LAILA. The wave spectrum was single-peaked during 57 % of the time and the double-peaked spectrum observed was mainly swell-dominated. Low-frequency waves (0.05–0.15 Hz) were predominantly from 150° to 180°, whereas high-frequency waves (>0.15 Hz) during November–January were mainly from 90° to 120°, and during July and August from 180° to 210°. Annual average significant wave height was similar to the value (1 m) observed in the eastern Arabian Sea.     

Interannual variability of Kelvin wave propagation in the wave guides of the equatorial Indian Ocean,the coastal Bay of Bengal and the southeastern Arabian Sea during 1993–2006

The observed variability of the Kelvin waves and their propagation in the equatorial wave guide of the Indian Ocean and in the coastal wave guides of the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the southeastern Arabian Sea (AS) on seasonal to interannual time scales during years 1993–2006 is examined utilizing all the available satellite and in-situ measurements. The Kelvin wave regime inferred from the satellite-derived sea surface height anomalies (SSHA) shows a distinct annual cycle composed of two pairs of alternate upwelling (first one occurring during January–March and the second one occurring during August–September) and downwelling (first one occurring during April–June and the second one occurring during October–December) Kelvin waves that propagate eastward along the equator and hit the Sumatra coast and bifurcate. The northern branches propagate counterclockwise over varied distances along the coastal wave guide of the BoB. The potential mechanisms that contribute to the mid-way termination of the first upwelling and the first downwelling Kelvin waves in the wave guide of the BoB are hypothesized. The second downwelling Kelvin wave alone reaches the southeastern AS, and it shows large interannual variability caused primarily by similar variability in the equatorial westerly winds during boreal fall. The westward propagating downwelling Rossby waves triggered by the second downwelling Kelvin wave off the eastern rim of the BoB also shows large interannual variability in the near surface thermal structure derived from SODA analysis. The strength of the equatorial westerlies driven by the east–west gradient of the heat sources in the troposphere appears to be a critical factor in determining the observed interannual variability of the second downwelling Kelvin wave in the wave guides of the equatorial Indian Ocean, the coastal BoB, and the southeastern AS.     

Upper Ocean Four-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

A regional ocean circulation model with four-dimensional variational data assimilation scheme is configured to study the ocean state of the Indian Ocean region (65°E–95°E; 5°N–20°N) covering the Arabian Sea (AS) and Bay of Bengal (BoB). The state estimation setup uses 10 km horizontal resolution and 5 m vertical resolution in the upper ocean. The in-situ temperature and salinity, satellite-derived observations of sea surface height, and blended (in-situ and satellite-derived) observations of sea surface temperature alongwith their associated uncertainties are used for data assimilation with the regionally configured ocean model. The ocean state estimation is carried out for 61 days (1 June to 31 July 2013). The assimilated fields are closer to observations compared to other global state estimates. The mixed layer depth (MLD) of the region shows deepening during the period of assimilation with AS showing higher MLD compared to the BoB. An empirical forecast equation is derived for the prediction of MLD using the air–sea forcing variables as predictors. The surface and sub-surface (50 m) heat and salt budget tendencies of the region are also investigated. It is found that at the sub-surface, only the advection and diffusion temperature and salt tendencies are important.     

Seasonal Variability of Near-Surface Heat Budget of Selected Oceanic Areas in the North Tropical Indian Ocean

The results obtained from an Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM), the Modular Ocean Model 2.2, forced with the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis data, and observational data have been utilized to document the climatological seasonal cycle of the upper ocean response in the Tropical Indian Ocean. We address the various roles played by the net surface heat flux and the local and remote ocean dynamics for the seasonal variation of near-surface heat budget in the Tropical Indian Ocean. The investigation is based in seven selected boxes in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Equatorial Indian Ocean. The changes of basin-wide heat budget of ocean process in the Arabian Sea and the Western Equatorial Indian Ocean show an annual cycle, whereas those in the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Equatorial Indian Ocean show a semi-annual cycle. The time tendency of heat budget in the Arabian Sea depends on both the net surface heat flux and ocean dynamics while on the other hand, that in the Bay of Bengal depends mainly on the net surface flux. However, it has been found that the changes of heat budget are very different between western and eastern regional sea areas in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, respectively. This difference depends on seasonal variations of the different local wind forcing and the different ocean dynamics associated with ocean eddies and Kelvin and Rossby waves in each regional sea areas. We also discuss the comparison and the connection for the seasonal variation of near-surface heat budget among their regional sea areas. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

北印度洋障碍层厚度气候态和季节变化特征及其成因初步分析

基于2004—2018年Argo (Array for Real-Time Geostrophic Oceanography)浮标观测的温度、盐度数据, 利用经验正交函数(EOF)分析和小波分析等方法对北印度洋(40°—105°E, 5°S—25°N)障碍层时空分布特征进行分析。结果显示: 北印度洋的东部常年存在障碍层, 而西部障碍层出现的概率相对较低; 较厚的障碍层出现在阿拉伯海东南部(67°—75°E, 3°—12°N)、孟加拉湾(82°—93°E, 11°—20°N)和赤道东印度洋(81°—102°E, 4°S—3°N)。阿拉伯海东南部和孟加拉湾障碍层厚度以年变化为主, 且呈同位相变化, 均为冬季最大, 夏季最小。赤道东印度洋区域则主要呈现半年周期变化, 在夏季和冬季各出现一次峰值。进一步分析表明, 孟加拉湾和赤道东印度洋障碍层厚度主要受等温层深度变化影响, 混合层深度变化对障碍层厚度变化的影响相对较小; 阿拉伯海障碍层厚度同时受等温层深度变化和混合层深度变化影响, 其中等温层深度变化对其影响更大。     

Inter-Comparison of Numerical Model Generated Surface Winds with QuikSCAT Winds over the Indian Ocean

The accurate surface wind in the equatorial Indian Ocean is crucial for modeling ocean circulation over this region. In this study, the surface wind analysis generated at the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are compared with NASA QuikSCAT satellite derived Level2B (swath level) and Level3 (gridded) surface winds for the year 2005. It is observed that the ECMWF winds exhibit speed bias of 1.5 m/s with respect to QuikSCAT Level3 in the southern equatorial Indian Ocean. The NCEP winds are found to exhibit speed bias (1.0–1.5 m/s) in the southern equatorial Indian Ocean specifically during January–February 2005. The biases are also observed in the analysis when compared with Level2B product as well; however, it is less in comparison to Level3 products. The amplitude of daily variations of both ECMWF and NCEP wind speed in Bay of Bengal and parts of the Arabian Sea is about 80% of that in QuikSCAT, while in the equatorial Indian Ocean it is about 60% of that of QuikSCAT.     

孟加拉湾海表盐度变化特征的卫星遥感应用研究

本文利用2011年8月至2014年3月Aquarius卫星盐度产品结合Argo等实测盐度资料,探讨了孟加拉湾海表盐度的季节及年际变化特征。结果显示,Aquarius与Argo盐度呈显著线性正相关,总体较Argo盐度值低,偏差为-0.13,其中在孟加拉湾北部海域负偏差值比南部海域更大,分别为-0.28和-0.10。Aquarius卫星与Argo浮标在表层盐度观测深度上的差别是造成此系统偏差的主因。Aquarius盐度资料清晰显示了孟加拉湾海表盐度具有明显的季节变化特征,包括阿拉伯海高盐水的入侵引起湾南部海域盐度的变化以及湾北部淡水羽分布范围的季节性迁移等主要特征。此外,分析还揭示了2011(2012)年春季整个湾内出现异常高盐(低盐)现象。研究表明,2010(2011)年湾北部夏季降雨减少(增加)导致该海域海水盐度偏高(偏低),并通过表层环流向南输运引起次年春季湾内表层盐度出现异常高盐(低盐)现象,春季风应力旋度正(负)距平通过影响盐度垂直混合过程对同期表层盐度异常高盐(低盐)变化也有影响。     

Remote Sensing of Chlorophyll and Sea Surface Temperature in Indian Water with Impact of 2004 Sumatra Tsunami

The daily and weekly averaged Indian Remote Sensing satellite IRS-P4 Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) derived chlorophyll images were generated and interpreted in terms of pretsunami, tsunami, and posttsunami periods in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. There has been observation of increase in chlorophyll concentration up to 5.0 mg/m3 in the tsunami-affected coastal waters. The high chlorophyll concentration lasted for about one week after the tsunami catastrophe. The standard deviation for different transects in the tsunami-affected water were plotted. The high chlorophyll has been observed for selected transects in the aftermath of the tsunami event in coastal regions, and offshore water has also shown increase in chlorophyll concentration (～1.0 mg/m3) in the Bay of Bengal. The analysis indicated that the tsunami waves might have displaced and spread the high chlorophyll coastal water towards offshore. NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua daytime sea surface temperature (SST) daily images were retrieved and displayed during December 21, 2004, to January 6, 2005, and indicated the cooling (0.5–1°C) in the Bay of Bengal around Tamil Nadu and Andhra coast. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Prediction-National Center for Environment Prediction (NOAA-NCEP) data for five weeks (December 9, 2004–January 12, 2005) were retrieved to study the SST variability trend in prior to MODIS data and indicated 0.5–1°C cooling of the Bay of Bengal water off Kakinada, Chennai, Cuddalore, and Nagapattinam region on December 26 and 28, 2004.     

Statistical characteristics and mechanisms of mesoscale eddies in the North Indian Ocean

The statistical characteristics and mechanisms of mesoscale eddies in the North Indian Ocean are investigated by adopting multi-sensor satellite data from 1993 to 2019. In the Arabian Sea(AS), seasonal variation of eddy characteristics is remarkable, while the intraseasonal variability caused by planetary waves is crucial in the Bay of Bengal(BOB). Seasonal variation of the eddy kinetic energy(EKE) is distinct along the west boundary of AS,especially in the Somali Current region. In the BOB, lar...     

Impact of atmospheric and physical forcings on biogeochemical cycling of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in the coastal Bay of Bengal

Time-series observations were conducted off Visakhapatnam, central west coast of Bay of Bengal, from October 2007 to April 2009 to examine the influence of physical and atmospheric processes on water column nutrients biogeochemistry. The thermal structure displayed inversions of 0.5 to 1.0° C during winter and were weaker in summer. The water column was vertically stratified during the entire study period and was stronger during October–November 2007 and August–December 2008 compared to other study periods. High concentrations of chlorophyll-a and nutrients were associated with the extreme atmospheric events. The strong relationship of nutrients with salinity indicates that physical processes, such as circulation, mixing and river discharge, have a significant control on phytoplankton blooms in the coastal Bay of Bengal. Phosphate seems to be a controlling nutrient during winter whereas availability of light and suspended matter limits production in summer. Formation of low oxygen conditions were observed in the bottom waters due to enhanced primary production by extreme atmospheric events; however, re-oxygenation of bottom waters through sinking of oxygen-rich surface waters by a warm core (anticyclonic) eddy led to its near recovery. This study reveals that atmospheric and physical processes have significant impacts on the water column biogeochemistry in the coastal Bay of Bengal.     

北印度洋风暴潮特征及其对气候信号的响应研究

北印度洋是我国“海上丝绸之路”的重要通道,其每年热带气旋活动引起的风暴潮等严重威胁着船舶航行安全和沿岸国家人民生命财产安全。分析研究北印度洋风暴潮的特征,对我国经济发展及北印度洋沿岸国家防灾减灾具有重要的现实意义。利用美国联合预警中心(the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, JTWC)公布的1950~2020年热带气旋资料、美国国家海洋和大气管理局(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA)公布的1950~2020年热带气旋资料与1950~2020年的Niño3.4指数、夏威夷大学海平面中心(University of Hawaii Sea Level Center, UHSLC)公布的北印度洋每小时的水位数据进行分析,结果表明:　(1)北印度洋大于1 m的风暴潮主要分布在孟加拉湾北部,少量分布在孟加拉湾其他区域与阿拉伯海; (2)孟加拉湾北部区域的年际最大热带风暴潮(annual maximum tropical cyclone storm surge, AMTSS)与当月Niño3.4指数、南方涛动指数(southern oscillation index, SOI)相关性较高、受厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(EI Niño-Southem Oscillation, ENSO)的影响明显; (3)北印度洋AMTSS月际分布呈现双峰分布,与热带气旋(tropical cyclone, TC)的月际分布基本一致; (4) La Niña期间影响孟加拉湾北部的热带气旋在数量与强度方面均超过El Niño期间影响孟加拉湾的热带气旋,是La Niña期间风暴潮极值大于EI Niño期间风暴潮极值的重要原因。研究表明, AMTSS对ENSO信号的响应可能为AMTSS提供了潜在的可预测性,这对早期预警和减少风暴潮灾害具有重要意义。     

“21世纪海上丝绸之路”风能资源时空变化评估

利用1979—2021 年的 ERA5 再分析资料,采用经验正交函数分解法、Mann-Kendall 趋势检验法等统计方法,对“21 世纪海上丝绸之路”相关海区的海表风场与风能密度的空间分布特征、季节变化特征以及长期变化趋势进行分析。结果表明：(1)研究海域风能密度在不同季节表现出很大的空间差异,夏季的阿拉伯海和孟加拉湾,冬季的中国南海,以及全年的热带南印度洋风能资源都极为丰富。(2)研究时段内,中国南海北部及附近海域、阿拉伯海西部、孟加拉湾西部以及热带西北印度洋风能密度等级整体较高。(3)研究海域的风能密度以年变化特征为主,其中中国南海风能密度的季节变幅最大且在春、秋两季表现出明显的转换特征。(4)在研究海区中,结合水深条件与风能密度时空变化特征的评估结果,可以重点关注台湾海峡、吕宋海峡、中南半岛东南沿海、阿拉伯海西部近岸海域及热带西北印度洋近岸大陆架海域风能资源的开发利用,加强其他海域风能资源的储备。此研究可为“21 世纪海上丝绸之路”风能资源的中长期开发规划提供依据。     

赤道东印度洋和孟加拉湾障碍层厚度的季节内和准半年变化

利用2002—2015年ARGO网格化的温度、盐度数据, 结合卫星资料揭示了赤道东印度洋和孟加拉湾障碍层厚度的季节内和准半年变化特征, 探讨了其变化机制。结果表明, 障碍层厚度变化的两个高值区域出现在赤道东印度洋和孟加拉湾北部。在赤道区域, 障碍层同时受到等温层和混合层变化的影响, 5—7月和11—1月受西风驱动, Wyrtki急流携带阿拉伯海的高盐水与表层的淡水形成盐度层结, 同时西风驱动的下沉Kelvin波加深了等温层, 混合层与等温层分离, 障碍层形成。在湾内, 充沛的降雨和径流带来的大量淡水产生很强的盐度层结, 混合层全年都非常浅, 障碍层季节内变化和准半年变化主要受等温层深度变化的影响。上述两个区域障碍层变化存在关联, 季节内和准半年周期的赤道纬向风驱动的波动过程是它们存在联系的根本原因。赤道东印度洋地区的西风(东风)强迫出向东传的下沉(上升)的Kelvin波, 在苏门答腊岛西岸转变为沿岸Kelvin波向北传到孟加拉湾的东边界和北边界, 并且在缅甸的伊洛瓦底江三角洲顶部(95°E, 16°N)激发出向西的Rossby波, 造成湾内等温层深度的正(负)异常, 波动传播的速度决定了湾内的变化过程滞后于赤道区域1~2个月。     

Spatiotemporal variation and mechanisms of temperature inversion in the Bay of Bengal and the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean

In the northern Bay of Bengal, the existence of intense temperature inversion during winter is a widely accepted phenomenon. However, occurrences of temperature inversion during other seasons and the spatial distribution within and adjacent to the Bay of Bengal are not well understood. In this study, a higher resolution spatiotemporal variation of temperature inversion and its mechanisms are examined with mixed layer heat and salt budget analysis utilizing long-term Argo（2004 to 2020） and RAMA（2...