SALINITY DISTRIBUTION IN THE ARABIAN SEA

In the Arabian Sea surface salinity (S-O) is more than 35 PSU througho ut the year, except in the southeastern regions. Increase of S-O in th e central Arabian Sea during the summer monsoon season was mainly due to evaporation and vertical mixing of surface waters with subsurface h igh saline waters. Increased evaporation in the northern Arabian Sea d ue to low air humidity causes high surface salinity (>36 PSU) througho ut the year. The subsurface maximum in the upper 200m corresponds to t he Arabian Sea Watermass which lies on the 23.5 kg.m(-3) sigma-t surfa ce. Large difference between surface and subsurface salinity maxima (> 0.2 PSU during winter and summer monsoon) suggests the significance of surface dilution in the eastern Arabian Sea. Another feature in the v ertical salinity structure is the transient multiple subsurface maxima separated by pockets of low saline water.