Spatiotemporal variation and mechanisms of temperature inversion in the Bay of Bengal and the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean

In the northern Bay of Bengal,the existence of intense temperature inversion during winter is a widely accepted phenomenon.However,occurrences of temperature inversion during other seasons and the spatial distribution within and adjacent to the Bay of Bengal are not well understood.In this study,a higher resolution spatiotemporal variation of temperature inversion and its mechanisms are examined with mixed layer heat and salt budget analysis utilizing long-term Argo(2004 to 2020)and RAMA(2007 to 2020)profiles data in the Bay of Bengal and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean(EEIO).Temperature inversion exists(17.5%of the total 39293 Argo and 51.6%of the 28894 RAMA profiles)throughout the year in the entire study area.It shows strong seasonal variation,with the highest occurrences in winter and the lowest in spring.Besides winter inversion in the northern Bay of Bengal,two other regions with frequent temperature inversion are identified in this study for the first time:the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal and the eastern part of the EEIO during summer and autumn.Driving processes of temperature inversion for different subregions are revealed in the current study.Penetration of heat(mean~25 W/m;)below the haline-stratified shallow mixed layer leads to a relatively warmer subsurface layer along with the simultaneous cooling tendency in mixed layer,which controls more occurrence of temperature inversion in the northern Bay of Bengal throughout the year.Comparatively lower cooling tendency due to net surface heat loss and higher mixed layer salinity leaves the southern part of the bay less supportive to the formation of temperature inversion than the northern bay.In the EEIO,slightly cooling tendency in the mixed layer along with the subduction of warm-salty Arabian Sea water beneath the cold-fresher Bay of Bengal water,and downwelling of thermocline creates a favorable environment for forming temperature inversion mainly during summer and autumn.Deeper isothermal layer depth,and thicker barrier layer thickness intensify the temperature inversion both in the Bay of Bengal and EEIO.

Contributions of shortwave radiation to the formation of temperature inversions in the Bay of Bengal and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean:A modeling approach

Variations in incoming shortwave radiation influence the net surface heat flux,contributing to the formation of a temperature inversion.The effects of shortwave radiation on the temperature inversions in the Bay of Bengal and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean have never been investigated.Thus,a high-resolution(horizontal resolution of 0.07°×0.07° with 50 vertical layers) Regional Ocean Modeling System(ROMS) model is utilized to quantify the contributions of shortwave radiation to the temperature inversions in the study domain.Analyses of the mixed layer heat and salt budgets are performed,and different model simulations are compared.The model results suggest that a 30% change in shortwave radiation can change approximately 3% of the temperature inversion area in the Bay of Bengal.Low shortwave radiation reduces the net surface heat flux and cools the mixed layer substantially;it also reduces the evaporation rate,causing less evaporative water vapor losses from the ocean than the typical situation,and ultimately enhances haline stratification.Thus,the rudimentary outcome of this research is that a decrease in shortwave radiation produces more temperature inversion in the study region,which is primarily driven by the net surface cooling and supported by the intensive haline stratification.Moreover,low shortwave radiation eventually intensifies the temperature inversion layer by thickening the barrier layer.This study could be an important reference for predicting how the Indian Ocean climate will respond to future changes in shortwave radiation.