A case study on the short-term variability in the observed temperature and currents in the upper layers of the northeastern Arabian Sea during the pre-onset phase of ISMEX-73

Abstract

The observed short-term variability in the temperature records of the top 200 m water column and in the current meter records at 50 and 75 m depths was investigated with the aid of short time series measurements made at a single station (18ᵒN, 67ᵒE) in the NE Arabian Sea (29 May to 5 June 1973). The sea surface temperature increased by about 0.5 ᵒ C and the temperature at 75 and 100 m depths did not show any perceptible changes. However, a remarkable feature was a temperature drop of 2ᵒC at 50 m depth during this period. Both vertical and lateral advection appeared to have contributed towards cooling of 1.2ᵒC and 0.8ᵒC respectively in association with the readjustment conditions produced in the upper layers by a westward moving meteorological disturbance during the preceding week.