Arabian Sea upwelling - A comparison between
coastal and open ocean regions
P. M. Muraleedharan and S. Prasanna Kumar
National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India
The response of the eastern Arabian Sea to prevailing winds during
an upwelling event, in the peak of southwest monsoon, was studied at both
coastal and open ocean environment based on the data collected as a part
of the Indian Joint Global Ocean Flux Studies (JGOFS) programme. Analysis
of wind measurements indicated active upwelling along the southwest coast
of India, which gradually propagates towards north. While the dominant
long-shore component of the wind induces upwelling in the south, the crossshore
component is instrumental in modifying the density structure of the surface
layer, especially in the north, to produce retarding effect. In open ocean,
the wind maximum around 17oNand 64oE
indicates the axis of the Findlater Jet. The observed surfacing and deepening
of the isotherms on either side of the axis are the signatures of the upwelling
and sinking associated with the Findlater Jet.