Gyres in the NW Bay of Bengal - Some observed evidences

Abstract

Continuous observations of temperature, salinity and the flow at 4 stations off the rivers of Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi and off New Moore Island, along the east coast of India, were made prior to the onset of the SW monsoon in 1982. The analysis showed that the flows off Krishna and Godavari were directed towards S-SW, whereas the flow off Mahanadi was towards N-NE and the flow off New Moore Island was completely dominated by the tide. Hydrography at these stations showed that the S-SW flows off Krishna and Godavari were associated with low temperature and high salinity waters and the N-NE flow off Mahanadi was associated with high temperature and low salinity waters. The available evidences suggest that these flows are associated with gyres, a clockwise gyre off Mahanadi and an anti-clockwise gyre off Krishna and Godavari with a probable frontal zone in between. The results also suggest that the tidal influence on the mean flow is appreciable only off New Moore Island.