Wind-driven cross-equatorial flow in the Indian ocean

Máster en Oceanografía

NCEP Wind-stress and temperature and salinity data from Argo have been used together with a steady model to estimate the meridional velocity and volume and heat transport in the Equatorial Indian Ocean for a seven years period (2003-2009). Total volume transport of the wind stress curl shows a northward and southward flow for theWinter and Summer Monsoon,respectively. The velocity section shows a Somali Current flowing in opposite direction in the Winter and Summer Monsoons. In the Winter Monsoon, the Somali Current is shallow (~ 200 dbar) and flows to the south with and undercurrent below it. In the Summer Monsoon and Transitional Periods, the Somali Current flows to the north and to the south, respectively and extend to (~ 650 dbar) depth. The heat transport across the Equator presents a seasonal reversing, being -0.8PW to the south in the Winter monsoon and +1.2PW in the Summer Monsoon. The annual heat transport is -1.4PW that is mainly carried out by the Somali Current