Influence of the Arabian Sea on the Indian summer monsoon

Abstract

Based on aerological observations over the Arabian Sea and adjoining north Indian Ocean, taken on board USSR research vessels during MONEX-1973, patterns of vergence of air and water vapour fluxes are studied. The influence of the Arabian Sea on the fluctuations in intensity of the summer monsoon over the west coast of India is shown. It is inferred that evaporation exceeds precipitation over the east Arabian Sea near the west coast of India even during active monsoon. A zonal cell with the ascending limb over the east Arabian Sea and the descending branch over the west Arabian Sea is proposed. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1978.tb00825.x