Characteristics and vertical structure of oceanic mesoscale eddies in the Bay of Bengal

Abstract

The signatures of mesoscale eddies induced surface and subsurface changes have not been comprehensively quantified for the Bay of Bengal (BoB) region. This study quantifies the statistical properties and three-dimensional (3D) eddy structures in the BoB. To accomplish this, the satellite altimetry data combined with automated eddy detection and tracking algorithm is used. Horizontal distribution of surface characteristics of eddies is analyzed by using 24 years (1993–2016) of AVHRR infrared satellite sea surface temperature (SST) and 7 years (2010–2016) of sea surface salinity (SSS) of SMOS satellite data. Surface eddy centric composite analysis reveals the existence of warm (cold) and diverse SSS anomalies for anticyclonic (cyclonic) eddies. During winter, it is important to note that the eddy induced SST and SSS anomalies show the dipole patterns show opposite phases for the cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. Observed diploe structures are consistent with the eddy rotation and background large-scale meridional gradient of temperature and salinity fields. The 3D structure of eddies is investigated by using the ARMOR3D and Argo float profiles. The horizontal distribution of temperature and salinity anomalies from ARMOR3D signify the monopole structure of eddies in the subsurface layers. Further, the analysis of composite averages of 241 (200) Argo temperature profiles indicates the core of anticyclonic (cyclonic) eddies centered at about ∼140 m (∼100 m). However, salinity profiles depict the existence of core at ∼65 m (∼50 m). This study have practical relevance to a variety of stakeholders and finds profound importance in the validation of eddy-resolving ocean models for the BoB region.