Some kinetic energy properties of surface waters of north Indian Ocean

Abstract

Total kinetic energy (TKE), mean kinetic energy (MKE), eddy kinetic energy (EKE) and its constituents, low frequency eddy kinetic energy (LFEKE), and high frequency eddy kinetic energy (HFEKE), all per unit mass are computed from north and east components of surface current during 1974-1978 in the study area, bounded in the east and west by 100ᵒE and 50ᵒE meridians respectively and equator in the south and boundary of the Asian continent in the north. Source and sink regions of mechanical energy are identified. Most of the kinetic energy of surface circulation is in the eddy field. As energy propagates from source to sink region, it propagates from western regions of southern Arabian Sea (source) to the southwestern region off southern coast of India (sink). Barring isolated regions in Bay of Bengal and equatorial regions, high frequency eddy kinetic energy predominates. In the rest of the study region, i.e. in Arabian Sea and isolated regions Bay of Bengal, surface circulation consists of fluctuations with periods of more than one month.