ASIRI: Air-Sea Interactions in Northern Indian Ocean (and Its Relation to Monsoonal Dynamics of the Bay of Bengal)
Abstract
The long term goal of this project is to help develop collaboration between two South East Asian Countries (Sri Lanka and India) and the US for tackling scientific problems related to air-sea interactions in the Bay of Bengal (BOB), especially in relation to Indian Ocean Monsoons (IOM) and their breaks. Monsoons are caused by large amplitude land-ocean temperature differentials resulting from the seasonal cycle of solar forcing on oceans and land. The IOMs are strongly modulated by air-sea interactions, particularly in the BOB, thus determining sub-seasonal variability of the region. The summer monsoons are southwesterly, the resulting BOB circulation is anticyclonic, and strong upwelling occurs along the western boundary of BOB. Modulations of air-sea interactions, among other factors, lead to recurring monsoon breaks sandwiched between active wind periods. In the autumn, the monsoon winds switch to northeasterly, leading to the reversal of ocean currents, which occurs through a set of dynamical adjustments. The broad goals of this project is to (i) undertake a comprehensive review of previous studies on air-sea interactions in BOB, (ii) identify critical science issues that underpin a future comprehensive oceanographic research program on BOB, (iii) identify and initiate collaboration with a group of regional (Indian and Sri Lankan) scientists, (iii) visits to key institutions in India and Sri Lanka to facilitate collaboration, (iv) initiate a scientific personnel exchange program with these countries and the USA to cross-pollinate scientific expertise, (v) identify and address key administrative and intergovernmental bottlenecks for future research partnerships, (vi) help organize scientific meetings in India and Sri Lanka to plan for future collaborative programs of mutual interest, (vii) initiative outreach and capacity building efforts, and (viii) help ONR in developing regional research initiatives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA590509
Entities
People
- Harindra J. S. Fernando
Organizations
- University of Notre Dame