Observed mini-cold pool off the southern tip of India and its intrusion into the south central Bay of Bengal during summer monsoon season

Abstract

The observed mini-cold pool (MCP) off the southern tip of India (STI) and its intrusion into the south central Bay of Bengal (BoB) during the summer monsoon season is examined utilizing the available satellite and in situ measurements. The mechanisms that govern the occurrence of this MCP through surface wind field and its curl, net surface heat flux and divergence in the near-surface circulation (Ekman + geostrophic) are examined. The observed MCP primarily appears to be driven by the upwelling caused by the divergence in the near-surface circulation. The upwelling results in both shoaling of thermocline and enhanced blooming of chlorophyll-a. With the progress of the season the sea surface temperature (SST) cooling associated with MCP intrudes into the south central BoB by the Summer Monsoon Current (SMC). Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.