Estimation of Vertical Heat Diffusivity at the Base of the Mixed Layer in the Bay of Bengal

Details

• Journal Title:
  Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
• Personal Author:
  Girishkumar, M. S. ; Ashin, K. ; McPhaden, M. J. ; Balaji, B. ; Praveenkumar, B.
• NOAA Program & Office:
  OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)
• Description:
  One approach to estimating vertical heat diffusivity (KT) is to compute it from
  
  the residual of the mixed layer (ML) heat budget. Based on this approach, we use moored buoy
  
  data at 15°N, 12°N, and 8°N along 90°E over the period of 2007–2018 to estimate the seasonal average
  
  of KT at the base of the mixed layer in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). We find that KT is lower during
  
  spring and higher during winter compared to summer and fall at the mooring locations. Moreover, KT
  
  is generally higher in the southern BoB compared to the northern BoB. The present study also
  
  shows that the seasonal and spatial variability of KT is modulated both by stratification at the base
  
  of ML and by seasonal and spatial heterogeneity in atmospheric forcing, most notably wind stress
  
  and buoyancy flux. The availability of information on the spatial and seasonal variability of KT in
  
  the BoB will facilitate evaluation and validation of turbulent mixing parameterization schemes
  
  incorporated into ocean models.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Ocean temperature
• Source:
  Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125(5)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JC015402
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Bengal, Bay of
• Rights Information:
  Other
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:4ceb7b7b21a85673a953e1ad981cb6b10d5d3ef449313e4df59e10cdadec2948
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/32611/noaa_32611_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.76 MB ]