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On the observed synoptic variability in the thermal structure of the upper northern Bay of Bengal during MONEX-79

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Abstract

The short-term variability observed in the near surface meteorological parameters and in the vertical thermal structure of the upper layers of the northern Bay of Bengal during a weak monsoonal regime is examined with the aid of time series measurements. The variability of the mixed layer depth is interpreted in terms of forced mixing caused by the surface wind stress and free mixing by buoyancy flux, Ekman pumping controlled by the curl of the surface wind stress, convergence associated with a clockwise gyral circulation and stratification caused by freshwater discharges from rivers. The daily-averaged current vectors in the upper layers indicate the presence of clockwise gyral circulation in the polygon area.

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Rao, R.R., Mathew, B. On the observed synoptic variability in the thermal structure of the upper northern Bay of Bengal during MONEX-79. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet Sci.) 97, 21–34 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861624

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861624

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