Distribution of cyclone heat potential in the Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Southeast Bay of Bengal possesses higher cyclone heat potential (CHP) during July-September (monsoon) and October-December (fall). During monsoon, CHP varies from 25 k cal.cm^-2 in the southeastern Bay of Bengal to 10 k cal.cm^-2 in the central Bay of Bengal and then increases up to 15 k cal.cm^-2 at the head of the Bay of Bengal. Though there is a decrease of CHP over the entire Bay of Bengal during the subsequent period, it remains relatively higher in the southeast Bay of Bengal ( > 15 k cal.cm^-2). Regions of high or low CHP do not show any marked seasonality though the magnitude of it varies with season. Dynamic topography of the sea surface relative to 1000 db for these 2 periods shows that the circulation plays an important role in the distribution and maintenance of higher CHP at a few locations in the Bay of Bengal.