Monthly Variability of Mixed Layer over Arabian Sea Using ARGO Data

Abstract

The mixed layer depths over the Arabian Sea were computed for the three successive years 2004–2006 using ARGO floats data. The large availability of ARGO floats for the above period resulted in better estimation of mixed layer depth (MLD) over the Arabian Sea. The results were compared with World Ocean Atlas 1994 MLD Climatology. Marked variability in MLD on a monthly time scale is observed and it was in accordance with the wind stress and/or net heat gain variability, which are the principal factors influencing mixed layer over Arabian Sea. With the availability of large number of ARGO profile data, an attempt is made to study the monthly variability of Mixed Layer.

Keywords:

• Mixed layer
• ARGO
• wind stress
• net heat gain
• Arabian Sea

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the Counsel of Scientific and Industrial Research and the government of India for financial support. The authors wish to acknowledge the Argo community for providing data. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions.