Upwelling along the east coast of India

Abstract

An examination of the physical characteristics of the shelf waters off Karaikal in the premonsoon period and off Madras and Waltair in the premonsoon and monsoon periods reveals the presence of upwelling along the East Coast of India but with the following differences: (1) Off Madras and Karaikal, weak upwelling is indicated. Water from shallow depths reach the surface nearshore and there is no marked lowering of the surface temperature near the coast. (2) Upwelling is prominent off Waltair during the premonsoon and monsoon periods. Waters from deeper layers of the shelf appear to reach the surface causing considerable fall of surface temperature near the coast. The probable causes for these differences in upwelling along the coast are discussed.