Simulation of barotropic wind-driven circulation in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea during premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons

Abstract

Two-dimensional vertically integrated model has been used to simulate depth-mean wind-driven circulation during premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons in the upper layers of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The model is integrated for 365 d, forced by monthly mean wind stress. The model simulation results show the presence of a large anticyclonic gyre covering the entire Bay of Bengal and a small anticyclonic eddy around Andaman Sea during premonsoon season (March). However, during April, this gyre is seen only in the central and northern parts of the Bay of Bengal. Two anticyclonic gyres are observed in the central and southern parts of the Bay of Bengal during September. During October, the simulated currents are variable in their directions and have low magnitudes.