Seasonality and potential generation mechanisms of submesoscale processes in the northern Bay of Bengal

Abstract

The seasonality and generation mechanisms of submesoscale processes (SMPs) in the northern Bay of Bengal (nBoB) are investigated by the outputs of a high-resolution model simulation. The results show that the nBoB has abundant energetic SMPs, with significant seasonal features and geographic variability. The head basin (region A) and central basin (region B) of the nBoB are identified as two typical spots of submesoscale motions. Seasonally, SMPs in region A are strongest in spring and are closely correlated with strong mesoscale strain. By contrast, SMPs in region B are more active in winter and late summer due to the combined effects of deep mixed layer and large mesoscale strain. Energy analysis suggests that baroclinic instability is a dominant generation mechanism for energetic SMPs in region B during winter and summer periods. During spring, the prevalent submesoscale kinetic energy (KE) reservoir in region A is fueled by wind forcing, buoyancy conversion, and the forward KE cascades from mesoscale processes, and mainly balanced by the inverse KE cascades from submesoscale to large-scale processes.