Coastal processes at the southern tip of India during summer monsoon 2005
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Date
2007Author
Smitha, B.R.
VimalKumar, K.G.
Sanjeevan, V.N.
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In situ temperature and wind data, during summer monsoon 2005, bring out some interesting features like, the existence of a purely wind driven upweiling system at the southern tip (ST), very adjacent to another remotely forced upweiling system. Analysis indicates that the system is in harmony with the southwest monsoon winds, maximum during July with horizontal SST gradient of 4 degrees C and 1.17m/ day of vertical velocity. The role of local wind forcing is verified by comparing the isothermal shift and the wind induced vertical velocity, and by checking the Ekman drift in the area in different monsoon months. Peculiarity of the particular system is the low residence time of the upwelled waters, which is transported (maximum drift is 20-40cm/sec during July) further offshore and carried away by the equator ward flowing west India Coastal Current (WICC). This leads to the mixing of the nutrient rich upwelled waters with the less productive off shore waters, reducing the expected enhanced productivity due to upweiling. Surface Ekman drift and the distribution of surface chlorophyll show the southward flow of upwelled waters to join with the WICC.
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