Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean

The distribution of upper water masses and water exchange processes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal have important implications for the dynamics, thermal structure, and associated air-sea interactions in the North Indian Ocean. In this study, we apply the spectral clustering method to investiga...

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Main Authors: Defu Zheng, Junru Guo, Yanzhao Fu, Jun Song, Yu Cai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1610528/full
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author Defu Zheng
Defu Zheng
Defu Zheng
Junru Guo
Junru Guo
Junru Guo
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Yu Cai
Yu Cai
Yu Cai
author_facet Defu Zheng
Defu Zheng
Defu Zheng
Junru Guo
Junru Guo
Junru Guo
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Yu Cai
Yu Cai
Yu Cai
author_sort Defu Zheng
collection DOAJ
description The distribution of upper water masses and water exchange processes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal have important implications for the dynamics, thermal structure, and associated air-sea interactions in the North Indian Ocean. In this study, we apply the spectral clustering method to investigate the distribution patterns and exchange characteristics of Arabian Sea Water (ASW) and Bay of Bengal Water (BBW) under seasonal and interannual variability, with emphasis on the analysis of the spatiotemporal variations and control mechanisms of water fluxes in two main channel sections: the mouth of the Bay of Bengal (6° N) and the central equatorial seas (81° E). The results indicate that the eastward water flux driven by the Southwest Monsoon Current and Wyrtki jets averages 13.93±2.50 Sv (1 Sv = 106/m3) in summer and autumn, and the distribution range of ASW can be extended to the north of 10° N in the Bay of Bengal during this period. The winter–spring BBW incursion into the region west of 73° E in the Arabian Sea and the transport of the Northeast Monsoon Current reach 16.43±1.48 Sv, showing distinct seasonal changes. From 2001 to 2020, water fluxes across the Bay mouth and equatorial channels generally show a positive correlation. Affected by the monsoon transition process and the equatorial half-year Kelvin wave, water flux changes exhibit distinct half-year and one-year cycles. The time series of low salinity water transport anomalies and Dipole Mode Index (DMI) in the Bay mouth and equatorial region are negatively correlated (–0.30 and –0.42), indicating that water exchange is also moderated by Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on the interannual scale. The equatorial region exhibits greater sensitivity to IOD events, reflecting a more complex 2–3 year cycle in water flux variations. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the spectral clustering method in revealing the spatiotemporal patterns of water masses, which is important for understanding the ocean circulation system and associated climate variability in the North Indian Ocean.
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spelling doaj-art-983be70c2fab42d0945a457400d8e2bb2025-08-25T13:24:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-08-011210.3389/fmars.2025.16105281610528Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian OceanDefu Zheng0Defu Zheng1Defu Zheng2Junru Guo3Junru Guo4Junru Guo5Yanzhao Fu6Yanzhao Fu7Yanzhao Fu8Yanzhao Fu9Jun Song10Jun Song11Jun Song12Jun Song13Jun Song14Yu Cai15Yu Cai16Yu Cai17Operational Oceanography Institution (OOI), Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaLiaoning Key Laboratory of Real-time Marine Environmental Monitoring, Dalian, ChinaOperational Oceanography Institution (OOI), Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaLiaoning Key Laboratory of Real-time Marine Environmental Monitoring, Dalian, ChinaOperational Oceanography Institution (OOI), Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaLiaoning Key Laboratory of Real-time Marine Environmental Monitoring, Dalian, ChinaDalian Technology Innovation Center for Operational Oceanography, Dalian, ChinaOperational Oceanography Institution (OOI), Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaLiaoning Key Laboratory of Real-time Marine Environmental Monitoring, Dalian, ChinaDalian Technology Innovation Center for Operational Oceanography, Dalian, ChinaDalian Xinghaiwan Laboratory, Dalian, ChinaOperational Oceanography Institution (OOI), Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaSchool of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, ChinaLiaoning Key Laboratory of Real-time Marine Environmental Monitoring, Dalian, ChinaThe distribution of upper water masses and water exchange processes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal have important implications for the dynamics, thermal structure, and associated air-sea interactions in the North Indian Ocean. In this study, we apply the spectral clustering method to investigate the distribution patterns and exchange characteristics of Arabian Sea Water (ASW) and Bay of Bengal Water (BBW) under seasonal and interannual variability, with emphasis on the analysis of the spatiotemporal variations and control mechanisms of water fluxes in two main channel sections: the mouth of the Bay of Bengal (6° N) and the central equatorial seas (81° E). The results indicate that the eastward water flux driven by the Southwest Monsoon Current and Wyrtki jets averages 13.93±2.50 Sv (1 Sv = 106/m3) in summer and autumn, and the distribution range of ASW can be extended to the north of 10° N in the Bay of Bengal during this period. The winter–spring BBW incursion into the region west of 73° E in the Arabian Sea and the transport of the Northeast Monsoon Current reach 16.43±1.48 Sv, showing distinct seasonal changes. From 2001 to 2020, water fluxes across the Bay mouth and equatorial channels generally show a positive correlation. Affected by the monsoon transition process and the equatorial half-year Kelvin wave, water flux changes exhibit distinct half-year and one-year cycles. The time series of low salinity water transport anomalies and Dipole Mode Index (DMI) in the Bay mouth and equatorial region are negatively correlated (–0.30 and –0.42), indicating that water exchange is also moderated by Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on the interannual scale. The equatorial region exhibits greater sensitivity to IOD events, reflecting a more complex 2–3 year cycle in water flux variations. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the spectral clustering method in revealing the spatiotemporal patterns of water masses, which is important for understanding the ocean circulation system and associated climate variability in the North Indian Ocean.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1610528/fullwater mass analysisspectral clusteringspatiotemporal characteristicswater exchangeIOD
spellingShingle Defu Zheng
Defu Zheng
Defu Zheng
Junru Guo
Junru Guo
Junru Guo
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Yanzhao Fu
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Jun Song
Yu Cai
Yu Cai
Yu Cai
Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean
Frontiers in Marine Science
water mass analysis
spectral clustering
spatiotemporal characteristics
water exchange
IOD
title Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean
title_full Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean
title_short Spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the North Indian Ocean
title_sort spatiotemporal characteristics and mechanisms of upper water exchange between the arabian sea and the bay of bengal in the north indian ocean
topic water mass analysis
spectral clustering
spatiotemporal characteristics
water exchange
IOD
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1610528/full
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