The Monsoon Circulation of the Arabian Sea
Abstract
Project Summary This study focuses on understanding how local and remote forcing drive the seasonal evolution of upper ocean stratification and circulation in the Arabian Sea. Objectives include: 1. Document an annual cycle of Arabian Sea stratification, watermass variability and circulation, with a particular focus on the monsoon cycle of the Somalia Current system. 2. Characterize the generation and westward propagation of Rossby waves across the Arabian Sea and their impact on stratification and the timing of seasonal reversals in circulation. 3. Assess the relative importance of local forcing, including coastal upwelling, Ekman pumping, advection and mixing in determining the intensity and phasing of the western boundary’s response to the monsoons. Time series of remotely sensed sea surface height, coupled with glider?based sections spanning the Arabian Sea and profiles collected by Argo floats will characterize westward propagation of Rossby waves from generation sites in the negative windstress curl region and off the southern tip of India. Gliders will document western boundary current evolution by occupying shorter, repeated sections off the Somalia and Omani coasts. These observations will be interpreted in the context of remotely sensed winds, atmospheric flux products and model results to investigate local and remotely?driven response to monsoon forcing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512296
Entities
People
- Craig Lee
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Washington