Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2015, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 26-34.doi: 10.11978/2015012CSTR: 32234.14.2015012

Special Issue: 海上丝绸之路专题

• Marine Hydrography • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Seasonal variation of the water exchange between the Bay of Bengal and the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean

XUAN Li-li1, QIU Yun2, XU Jin-dian2, Li Zi-qiang3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Information Technology, National Marine Data and Information Service, Tianjin 300171, China;
    2. Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China;
    3. The Peoples Liberation Army of NO. 61741, Beijing 100000, China
  • Received:2015-01-25 Revised:2015-06-10 Online:2015-11-10 Published:2015-11-24

Abstract: Based on the simple ocean data assimilation (SODA) reanalysis and satellite observations, we analyzed the seasonal variation of the meridional salt exchange between the Bay of Bengal (BOB) and the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean (EEIO). We estimated the annual-mean freshwater transport along the 6°N section at the mouth of the BOB. Results showed that the salt exchange between BOB and EEIO is dominated by the currents, and its direction is almost opposite between the east and west sides at the bay mouth. During the southwest monsoon (northeast monsoon), the salt flux is northward (southward) in the west while it is southward (northward) in the east of the bay mouth. Furthermore, the freshwater flows out of (into) the bay during April to October (November to the following March). The freshwater transport from the BOB to the EEIO happens in the whole depth. The annual-mean freshwater transport is 1.0×105m3·s-1.

Key words: Equatorial eastern Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, water exchange, simple ocean data assimilation

CLC Number: 

  • P731.26