Abstract
—The identification of an eddy formation, south-west of the Mascarene Plateau, is demonstrated in global ocean colour data derived from the Aqua-MODIS satellite. In spite of a weak signature, construction of a monthly average plot using scaling techniques for the year 2004 allows the observation of an eddy structure for the month of June from the Aqua-MODIS data. The presence of an eddy is further substantiated by the application of altimetric data. The geostrophic velocities derived from altimeter data revealed that the current was moving in a clockwise direction that propagated in an east-west trend with higher geostrophic velocities (30-40 cm/s) in the southern limb. This eddy can be characterised as a meso-scale and intermittent oceanic feature with a size of around 225km diameter that traveled to a distance of 100-150 km in a fortnight, after which it started to decay.Keywords: Indian Ocean, Mascarene Plateau, Ocean color, Altimeter, SeaSurface Temperature
Highlights
The Indian Ocean and more precisely the South Indian Ocean (SIO) is still looked upon as a poorly studied ocean
New and others have attempted to develop an understanding of the large-scale flow patterns and water masses which are present and which may affect a section of the SIO, namely the Mascarene Plateau
The average monthly Chl-a concentrations were visually examined for the presence of eddy in the region of the Mascarene Plateau for the period between January 2003 and December 2005
Summary
The Indian Ocean and more precisely the South Indian Ocean (SIO) is still looked upon as a poorly studied ocean. In contrast much is known about the monsoonal influence in the Northern Indian Ocean and about its effect on the oceanography and climate of the region. The physical oceanography of the SIO is somehow less understood (New et al, 2005). This is attributed to relatively few research surveys and less data availability. Knowledge on the behaviour of the flow is relative sparse and little is known on its seasonal relationship with other geophysical parameters like temperature and chlorophyll concentrations except for some seasonal signatures of enhanced concentrations peaking around May and August (Badal, 2002). Eddy formation, which is believed to be important in biological processes, has only been indicated in this part of this ocean
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