The Coastal Current of the Andaman Sea Revealed by Reprocessed Observations

Abstract

Problem statement: The surface currents in the Andaman Sea are observed and quantified by many studies in opposite of the local coastal current that is unclear. Knowing the contributor to this local current improves the simulation work in the most accurate way. This study reviews reprocessed observations from satellites and creates an oceanic model by taking data of 1995 to generally explain the character of local coastal currents. Approach: The reprocessed data from satellite altimeter and Acoustic Doppler Currents Profilers (ADCP) ship are reviewed. The oceanic models based on the data of calm weather in 1995 are created to explain the character of coastal currents and associated intra-seasonal cycles in the no storm condition of other years. Results: Reprocessed satellite data and ADCP after comparing with models reveal the effects of the local wind along the coast and Rossby waves (triggered by Elman pumping or radiated by Equatorial Kelvin waves). That causes the intra-seasonal coastal current instead of regional monsoonal winds. Conclusion/Recommendations: The effects of regional monsoon winds are less than local winds and meso-scale eddies in the coastal current in the Andaman Sea. The simulation based on regional winds can not explain the coastal current in the no storm condition. Local winds and meso-scale eddies need to take into account in the model in order to capture these coastal currents.