Estimation of the barrier layer thickness in the <scp>I</scp>ndian <scp>O</scp>cean using Aquarius Salinity

Felton, Clifford S.; Subrahmanyam, Bulusu; Murty, V. S. N.; Shriver, Jay F.

doi:10.1002/2013jc009759

Cited by 47 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These authors reported that the BLT attains its annual maximum during February, but in present study the annual BLT maximum is observed in January. The spatial distribution pattern of Thadathil et al () and Felton et al (), however, closely resembles the pattern obtained in the present study for April, May, and June.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Seasonal and Interannual Variability in the Barrier Layer of the Bay of Bengal

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An objectively analyzed monthly gridded ocean analysis derived from a combination of satellite and in situ observations is used to describe the seasonal and interannual variability in the barrier layer thickness (BLT) over the maximum variance region in the BLT of the Bay of Bengal (BoB) for the period from 1993 to 2012. The northern BoB acquires a maximum variance in the BLT where a large river discharge flux was observed. The BLT showed strong seasonal variability with minima during April–May and maxima during December–February. An investigation of the variability in the BLT showed large amplitude at annual and semiannual time scales. The relationship between the BLT and the Indian Ocean dipole mode (IOD) reveals that the BLT maximum is relatively high in the negative IOD years when compared to the positive IOD years. A significant relation between the BLT and IOD is inferred with the IOD leading the BLT by 3 months and lagging by 1 month. We show that the 1 month lag in the northern BoB is mainly associated with coastally trapped Kelvin waves that radiate Rossby waves and control the BLT. However, further investigation is required regarding the temporal lead of the IOD with the BLT in the northern BoB.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Seasonal and Interannual Variability in the Barrier Layer of the Bay of Bengal

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Insufficient model resolution precludes some physical processes. Particularly, observed salinity profile is of complicated structure near the sea surface [e.g., Felton et al ., ; Song et al ., ; Drushka et al ., ], which cannot be properly reproduced by the present vertical resolution (∼2.9 m for the top layer). In addition, mesoscale eddies and submesoscale filaments are also important in modulating intraseasonal salinity variability in the far northern part of the bay [ Parampil et al ., ; Sengupta et al ., ], requiring finer horizontal and vertical resolutions to take into account.…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bay of Bengal salinity stratification and Indian summer monsoon intraseasonal oscillation: 1. Intraseasonal variability and causes

Han

Ravichandran

et al. 2017

JGR Oceans

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The huge freshwater flux of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM; May–October) gives rise to strong salinity stratification in the Bay of Bengal (BoB), causing a shallow mixed layer and a thick barrier layer, which potentially affects intraseasonal oscillations of the monsoon (MISOs). In this study, intraseasonal variability of the mixed‐layer depth (MLD) and barrier layer thickness (BLT) is investigated using in situ observations from Argo floats and moored buoys and an ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The average MLD in the BoB is typically 20–30 m during the ISM, while the BLT increases from ∼10 m in May–June to 20–40 m in September–October. MISOs induce in‐phase variations in MLD and isothermal layer depth (ILD), both of which are deepened by 8–15 m during MISO active phase, while the change of BLT is small and within the error range of Argo data sampling. In the northern (southern) bay, BLT increases by ∼5 m (2 m) during MISOs owing to a larger deepening of ILD than MLD. OGCM experiments are performed to understand the underlying mechanism. In the BoB intraseasonal variations of MLD, ILD and BLT arise largely from ocean internal instability, whereas those induced by MISOs are weaker. The in‐phase variations of MLD and ILD during MISOs are induced by different processes. The MLD deepening is primarily caused by wind stress forcing, while the ILD deepening is driven by surface heat fluxes via surface cooling. The limited variability of BLT is due to the offsetting of different forcing processes.

show abstract

“…Fresh water is dispersed southwards by surface currents along both coasts and by gradual mixing with saltier waters below (Behara and Vinayachandran 2016;Benshila et al 2014;Shetye 1993). The mixing process is slow and in the post-monsoon season fresh water creates a thin layer of low salinity at the sea surface, overlying the constant-temperature layer below (Felton et al 2014;Vinayachandran et al 2002). The warm but saltier water below the surface layer is often referred to as the barrier layer because it inhibits convection and so restricts the vertical mixing of water and heat flow to the deeper water column.…”

Section: Water Structure Circulation and Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%