01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-02-0075 |
| Title of Abstract | Interannual variability of the low-saline plume in the southeastern Arabian Sea |
| Authors | Soumya Mukhopadhyay*, Abhisek Chatterjee, Francis P. A. |
| Organisation | Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services |
| Address | Flat-G2, 1st floor, Vishal Towers, Plot no:-1634/1635 Hyderabad, Telangana, India Pincode: 500090 E-mail: s.mukhopadhyay-p@incois.gov.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | The transport of low-salinity water from the Bay of Bengal into the Arabian Sea during boreal winter leads to the formation of low-salinity plumes and a barrier layer in the Southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS), which is shown to influence the local air-sea interactions and the monsoon onset over India. This study investigates the interannual variability of this low-saline plume from 1988-2017. Analysis shows that during the enhanced plume years, the minimum salinity is observed in spring, with a low-salinity plume extending beyond 66 °E. In contrast, non-plume years exhibit minimum salinity in January, two months earlier than climatology, and progressively increase subsequently. Equatorial forcing and the associated westward advection of salinity anomaly from the eastern Bay are found to be the main mechanisms driving the observed interannual variability. Notably, despite weaker (enhanced) freshwater intrusion, non-plume (plume) years exhibit a thicker (thinner) barrier layer in the SEAS during spring, induced by the stronger (weaker) west India coastal current in winter. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Equatorial winds, Cross-basin transport, Barrier Layer, Salinity, Advection, SEAS |
| For Awards | no |