01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-05-0060 |
| Title of Abstract | Surface cooling in the Arabian Sea driven by near-inertial wave-induced mixing during a tropical cyclone |
| Authors | Subeesh MP*, Navaneeth KN, Jithin Abraham K |
| Organisation | Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory |
| Address | NPOL Kochi, Kerala, India Pincode: 682021 E-mail: subeeshoceanography@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Temperature observations from a deep-ocean mooring located along the track of cyclone Nanauk revealed an abrupt surface cooling that persisted for over twenty days during. Mooring observation of currents showed strong near-inertial currents in the mixed layer and elevated shear at its base throughout this cooling period. To investigate the role of near-inertial-driven vertical mixing on surface cooling, we utilized a one-dimensional Priceâ¿¿Wellerâ¿¿Pinkel (PWP) mixing model and a high-resolution (2 km) three-dimensional Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) model. Various sensitivity experiments are performed using the mixing model to understand the role of near-inertial waves in SST cooling. A part of long-term cooling was explained by shear-driven mixing induced by near-inertial waves in the mixed layer. The spatial variability of this cooling and the potential influence of near-inertial waves is further analysed using ROMS model simulations. The prolonged cooling was observed over the wide region in the eastern Arabian Sea associated with the cyclone. The strong near-inertial kinetic energy due to the cyclone winds induces elevated shear at the base of the mixed layer, which leads to the prolonged cooling at the surface. Our study shows that the increased cyclone activity in the Arabian Sea during the recent years may have a significant influence on SST variability in the region in a short time scale. This may have a significant influence on the local climate system in this region. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | near-inertial waves, cyclone, SST, ROMS, PWP model |
| For Awards | no |