Some physical aspects of the surface waters around the little Andaman Island

Abstract

Along with the thermal and haline characteristics of the waters during the peak northeast monsoon period (February),observations on stratifications, inversions, mixed layers, nature and depth of thermocline, wind-induced surface drifts, zones of surface and sub-surface salinity parameters are discussed. The major objective, however, is to present the surface water circulation pattern around this island. It is shown that the surface water around this island flows towards the SSW from the NNE and that the surface water characteristics such as the nature of the mixed layer and the deepening of the mixed layer on the southwestern side of the island result not only as a 'lee' effect but also lends further evidence to the fact that the waters on the western side of the Andaman Island arc as a whole are slightly different from the waters on the eastern side i.e. the Andaman Sea water.