Abstract:
Circulation in the Bay of Bengal (BOB) is affected by the seasonal variability of current
patterns in the Indian Ocean. The status of the water in the Bay of Bengal is determined
by the fresh water influx from the large rivers in India and high saline water from
Arabian Sea. A thorough understanding on the circulation pattern in the region is
important for fishery, tourism, naval industies, environmental protection as well as climate predictions. East Indian Coastal Current (EICC), which flows along the western
boundary of the BOB reverses its direction twice a year. Satellite tracked SVP drifter
data was used to analyze the general characteristics of surface currents in tropical Indian
Ocean. Drifter data derived color maps (both trajectory and SST) and Ocean color
images show a flow of low salinity cold water to the Arabian Sea (AS) from BOB along
the east coast of India and Sri Lanka during winter monsoon and reversed the current
patterns during summer monsoon with high salinity warm water from AS to the BOB.
