Modeling on the Aspects of Thermal Response of Bay of Bengal to Tropical Cyclone TC05B 1999 using Pr...

Yashvant Das, U. C. Mohanty, Jain Indu, M. Subba Rao, A.S.N. Murty

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Modeling on the Aspects of Thermal Response of Bay of Bengal to Tropical Cyclone TC05B 1999 using Princeton Ocean Model (POM): Preliminary Results

Yashvant Das1, 2,, U. C. Mohanty1, 3, Jain Indu1, M. Subba Rao4, A.S.N. Murty5

1CAS, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India

2Research and Modelling Division, AIR Worldwide India Private Limited, Rockdale, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India

3EOCS, Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneshwar, India

4CEA&WMT, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India

5Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, Berhampur, India

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TC’s), while moving over the ocean bring about significant changes in ocean thermal structure and other ocean environment. These oceanic thermal responses provide vital information for understanding the air-sea interaction processes. This study used Princeton Ocean Model (POM) to investigate the changes in the oceanic thermal characteristics of Bay of Bengal (BOB) associated with TC05B (Orissa super cyclone) 1999. Model was forced with the wind and heat plus salinity fluxes as surface forcing in different experiments. In order to provide reasonable and realistic cyclonic winds to the model as forcing, the tropical cyclone wind model (TCWM) was developed to generate the synthetic cyclonic winds and superimposed with the analyzed blended QSCAT/NCEP wind field. Results show significant drop in sea surface temperature (SST) beneath the storm centre and to the right of the track confirming the earlier findings and are in qualitative agreement with the available Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) satellite SST imageries. Subsurface thermal structures also reflect significant impact of cyclonic vortex over BOB.

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Cite this article:

  • Das, Yashvant, et al. "Modeling on the Aspects of Thermal Response of Bay of Bengal to Tropical Cyclone TC05B 1999 using Princeton Ocean Model (POM): Preliminary Results." American Journal of Modeling and Optimization 2.2 (2014): 47-59.
  • Das, Y. , Mohanty, U. C. , Indu, J. , Rao, M. S. , & Murty, A. (2014). Modeling on the Aspects of Thermal Response of Bay of Bengal to Tropical Cyclone TC05B 1999 using Princeton Ocean Model (POM): Preliminary Results. American Journal of Modeling and Optimization, 2(2), 47-59.
  • Das, Yashvant, U. C. Mohanty, Jain Indu, M. Subba Rao, and A.S.N. Murty. "Modeling on the Aspects of Thermal Response of Bay of Bengal to Tropical Cyclone TC05B 1999 using Princeton Ocean Model (POM): Preliminary Results." American Journal of Modeling and Optimization 2, no. 2 (2014): 47-59.

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1. Introduction

Strong atmospheric forcing events such as tropical cyclones (TCs) and the mutual response of atmosphere and ocean represent an extreme case of air–sea interaction process (Liu et al., 2012) and is critical for understanding the development and life cycles of the storms, which can improve storm intensity and track forecasting (Morey et al., 2006). The primary energy source driving these storms is the latent heat release due to the condensation of water vapour, which ultimately comes from the ocean (Jacob and Shay, 2003).The evolution, intensification and passage of TC’s over tropical Indian Ocean regions (the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea) during pre- and post-monsoon periods is a common phenomena. The frequency of occurrence of TC in BOB is relatively higher during post-monsoon periods, however, there is a marked seasonal variations in their places of genesis, tracks and intensities (Anonymous, 1979; Mohanty et al., 2004). BOB’s share comes out to be 5-6% of the total world ocean waters (Gray, 1979).

TCs are strongly-coupled to ocean mixed layer and surface waves through momentum, heat and moisture exchanges at the air-sea interface (Liu et al., 2012).TC generated strong winds produce intense mixing and divergent flows in the upper layers of the ocean. This results in redistribution of waters through (entrainment and upwelling from depths below) oceanic vertical mixing resulting in SST reduction and corresponding reduction of sea surface fluxes (Maeda, 1964; Gopalakrishna et al., 1993; Jacob and Shay, 2003).

Oceanic response to TCs has been studied theoretically and through applying the numerical modeling during past decades. Shay et al. (2000) investigated the upper- ocean response to the passage of Hurricane Gilbert (1988) using in situ observations and found that Hurricane Gilbert induced significant decreases in the sea surface temperature (SST) by as much as 3.5-4 °C and the maximum currents in mixed layer ranged from 1 to 1.4 m. Using mooring data sets, Dickey et al. (1988) studied the upper ocean response to Hurricane Felix (1995). Their study revealed, important findings of the expected upper-ocean responses to hurricane including decrease in SST, strong inertial motion, large amplitude internal gravity waves in the thermocline, strong vertical turbulent mixing and heat exchange, and cooling of the upper mixed layer that persisted for several days (Liu et al., 2012). Through their studies they also explored the position of maximum cooling to be biased to the right of the path of hurricanes in keeping with earlier findings (Greatbatch, 1985; Cornillon et al., 1987). Zedler et al. (2002) extended the study of Dickey et al. (1988) by making more detailed analyses and using four different one-dimensional mixed layer models to simulate ocean responses. The results showed that one-dimensional model could partly simulate the responses to Hurricane Felix for both temperature and currents. SST may decrease by up to 60 C depending on the storm’s intensity, spatial extent, and propagation speed, and the oceanic mixed layer thickness (Leipper, 1967; Wright, 1969; Price, 1981; Stramma et al., 1986; Nelson 1998; Shay, 1994; Wentz et al., 2000; Lin et al., 2003; Sadhuram, 2004).

Oceans response due to the passage of TC in the North Indian Ocean (BOB) has been reported by earlier studies (Gopalakrishana et al., 1993; Chinthalu et al., 2001; Subramanyam et. al., 2005). Their findings confirm that in the regions of weaker upper ocean stratification (southern and western BOB) magnitude of SST decreases due to the cyclone was ~ 20 C (Rao, 1987, Rao, 2002; Gopalkrishna et al., 1993) while in the Northern Bay, where the upper ocean stratification is strong due to the low salinity waters, the SST decrease was between 0.30C and 0.90C (Vinaychandran, 2002). Kara et al. (2002, 2003a, 2003b).On their model simulation reported the SST drop of 0.50 to 0.80 C over the BOB during tropical cyclones 1999. Subramanyam et al. (2005) confirm the same findings. The BOB is one of the largest marginal sea of the Indian Ocean, extending across both tropical and subtropical zones and encompassing a surface area of 2.2X106 km2 (Figure 1). Studies on the thermal characteristics, circulations patterns and other aspects of the BOB have been studied and documented well. However, there is a sparse modeling study on the BOB’s thermal response to super cyclonic winds. Thus BOB is chosen to investigate the oceanic response to TC05B 1999, using the Princeton Ocean Model (POM). The POM was forced with QSCAT/NCEP blended analysis wind fields and superimposed with the synthetically generated cyclonic winds (Tropical Cyclone Wind Model (TCWM) by Carr and Elsberry (1997)) of the same resolutions.

The outline of the paper is as follows. Introduction is given in section 1. Section 2 describes the movements of TC05B 1999 over the BOB (North Indian Ocean). Section 3 delineates the blended QSCAT/NCEP and TCWM generated synthetic wind data. Section 4 describes the POM model, study domain and time steps Section 5 depicts the experiment design. Section 6 describes the results of the numerical simulation and Section 7 gives the conclusions.

Figure 1. Map of the study domain representing the bathymetry (meters) with colour filled isopleths of Bay of Bengal (North Indian Ocean)

2. Tropical Cyclone TC05B 1999

The 1999 Orissa cyclone, also known as TC05B (Orissa Super Cyclone) 1999 and Paradip cyclone, was the deadliest north Indian Ocean tropical cyclones. The system has been chosen for wind field generation and to study the oceanic thermal response to TC05B, 1999. As an initiation of genesis a tropical depression formed over the Malay Peninsula on October 25. It moved to the northwest and became a tropical storm on October 26. It continued to strengthen into a cyclone on the 27th. On October 28, it became a severe cyclone with a peak of 160 mph (260 km h-1) winds. It hit India the next day (on 29th Oct 1999) as a 155 mph (250 km h-1) cyclone (IMD). On October 29, the cyclone hit the Indian state of Orissa near the city of Bhubaneshwar. The ridge to the north blocked further inland movement, and the cyclone stalled about 30 miles (50 km) inland of the ocean. It slowly weakened, maintaining tropical storm strength as it drifted southward. The cyclone re-emerged into the Bay of Bengal on October 31, and dissipated on November 3 over the open waters.

Orissa super cyclone was one of the most deadly tropical cyclones which originated in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall in the Orissa state of India causing a huge damage to life and property. During the life-cycle of about 9 days (25th Oct - 3rd Nov 1990) its fatality could be well imagined as it attained the status of super cyclonic storm with wind speeds more than 250 km h-1. Figure 2 shows the track of the TC05B 1999 (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Earth Observation Research Center) with their characteristics representing the date at 00UTC, chosen for wind field generation and to study the oceanic thermal response. The direction of movement is in the northwest direction in the BOB, Indian Ocean and after hitting the mainland recurving back to the ocean and dissipates under unfavorable ocean-atmospheric conditions.

Figure 2. Track of the TC05B 1999 over Bay of Bengal (BOB) moving northwestwards with superscribed dates from 25th Oct. to 3rd Nov., 1999.Colours in the tracks are the indicative of the intensities with green as lower and red the higher

3. Tropical Cyclonic Wind Model (TCWM)

Tropical cyclone wind profile model developed by Carr and Elsberry, 1997 is based on the angular momentum balance to compute the wind vector relative to the center of the tropical cyclone. The synthetic cyclonic winds are generated by taking into account the cyclone parameters such as size (Ro), distance from the center of the cyclone (r), maximum tangential velocity (Rm), translational velocity (Vt) and coriolis parameter (f) and this is considered as cyclonic wind input.

The model cyclone has tangential and radial wind components varying with the radial distance (r) given as follows:

Where, γ = inflow angle of the wind, a = r/ Rm (scaling factor), x = positive constant < 1 and taken as x = 0.4, as proposed by Carr and Elsberry (1997). The superimposition of the synthetic wind field with real time NSCAT wind data is done similar to Chu et al., 2000, as follows.

where Vbg = background wind field, Vt = storm translational velocity, and ‘ε ’ is computed by

Where, the other symbols have their usual meanings.

The QSCAT/NCEP blended wind vectors (6-hourly) show that the storm was represented well, but in terms of magnitude and vortex structure (in some instances), it was not reflected (Scatterometer limitations) as the maximum intensity of TC05B, 1999 was about 70 ms-1. Hence, tropical cyclone model generated synthetic vortex (25th Oct 1999 to 31st Oct 1999, 6-hourly) are superimposed with QSCAT/NCEP blended winds and used in forcing the model as realistic cyclonic winds. Cubic spline interpolation technique is used to bring the superimposed wind data fields to match the resolution of model. The 6-hourly evolutions of synthetic wind vectors generated using tropical cyclone model and QSCAT/NCEP blended surface wind vectors are shown in Figure 3a & Figure 3b for 00UTC 27th Oct. 1999 to 18 UTC 29th Oct. 1999.

Figure 3. a. TCWM generated synthetic wind vectors 6-hourly (00UTC 27 to 00UTC 29 Oct., 1999) over study domain (BOB), x= Longitude (Deg.E) and y=Latitude (Deg.N)
Figure 3. b. The QSCAT/NCEP blended wind vectors 6-hourly (00UTC 27 to 00UTC 29 Oct., 1999) over study domain (BOB), x= Longitude (Deg.E) and y=Latitude (Deg.N)

4. The Princeton Ocean Model (POM)

4.1. Model Description, Study Domain and Time Steps

The POM is a time-dependent, primitive equation ocean model on a three-dimensional grid with complete thermohaline dynamics that includes realistic topography (terrain-following) and a free surface. It includes the 2nd order turbulence scheme as a sub model to represent well the mixed layer dynamics (Mellor & Yamada, 1982). Model attributes are given in Table 1. Basic equations that is the continuity, momentum conservation and temperature and salinity equations (Blumberg and Mellor (1987), Mellor, 2001) in cartesian coordinate system in simplified form can be represented as, continuity equations:

(1)

x-momentum equation:

(2)

y-momentum equation:

(3)

Z-momentum or hydrostatic equation:

(4)

temperature equation:

(5)

salinity equation:

(6)

The terms d(·)/dt, Fx, Fy, FT and FS presented in the equations (2), (3), (5) and (6) represent the total derivative terms, these unresolved processes and in analogy to the molecular diffusion can be described as

Where,

u, v = the horizontal components of the velocity vector,

w = the vertical component of the velocity vector,

g = the gravitational acceleration,

p = the local pressure,

ρ(x, y, z, t, T, S) = the local density,

ρo = the reference water density,

Am = the horizontal turbulent diffusion coefficient,

Amv = the vertical turbulent diffusion coefficient,

f = 2Ωsinθ is the Coriolis parameter (θ=latitude, Ω= 7.2921×10-5 rad s-1)

T = the potential temperature,

S = the potential salinity,

Ah, Ahv = the horizontal and vertical thermal diffusivity coefficients,

Fx, Fy = the horizontal viscosity

FT, FS = the horizontal diffusion terms of temperature and salinity.

Figure 4. Model resolutions (meters) of the study domain(BOB), xc = Longitude (Deg. E), yc = Latitude (Deg, N)

The model used in this study extends from 10.00 to 25.00 N and 80.00 to 100.00E (Figure1 & Figure 4) that uses orthogonal curvilinear grid with Arakawa C-grid staggering, with a variable horizontal grid resolution of 4 to 12 Km (Figure 4). The model has 250 x 250 horizontal grid points and 26 sigma layers in the vertical. The model uses the bottom topography derived from the Earth Topography and Ocean Bathymetry Database (ETOPO5) at 5-minutes resolution from NGDC database as shown in the Figure 1.The two-dimensional external mode uses a short time-step of 12 sec. based on the external wave speed, while a three-dimensional internal mode uses a long time-step of 540 sec based on the internal wave speed. Courant-Fredrick-Levy (CFL) condition has been followed for computational stability.

4.2. Atmospheric Forcing

The atmospheric forcing includes wind and heat flux forcing for the BOB application of POM. The wind forcing applied is determined by

Where, KM is the vertical mixing coefficient for momentum, and (u, v) and (τ0x, τ0y) are the two components of the water velocity and wind stress vectors, respectively. Surface thermal forcing used in this study is restoring type heat plus salinity flux forcing following in the line of Chu et al.(2000) and is depicted as

= (Qb + Qsen + Qlet) => Net heat flux = (Net long wave radiation + Sensible heat flux + latent heat flux).

= SOBS (E – P) => Salinity flux = Sea surface salinity (evaporation rate - precipitation rate)

θOBS, SOBS = (Sea surface temperature, Sea surface salinity) observed, and

θ, S = (Sea surface temperature, Sea surface salinity) model.

The parameters (α1, α2) are (0, 1) type switches and C is the relaxation coefficient and, the subscripts ‘OBS’ represent the observed. KH and KS are the vertical mixing coefficients for temperature and salinity, respectively. The mixing coefficients KM, KH and KS were computed using level two-turbulence closure scheme (Mellor and Yamada, 1982).

4.3. Lateral Boundary Forcing

Closed lateral boundaries, i.e. the modeled ocean bordered by land, were defined using a no slip condition for velocity and a zero gradient condition for temperature and salinity. No advective or diffusive heat, salt or velocity fluxes occur through these boundaries. At open boundaries, the numerical grid ends but the fluid flow is unrestricted. When the water flows into the model domain, temperature and salinity at the open boundary are likewise prescribed from the mean monthly climatology data (Levitus and Boyer, 1994a,1994b). Radiative boundary conditions are prescribed for momentum and thermal variables at the lateral open boundaries when water flows out of the domain (Mellor 2001; Chu et al., 2000), the radiation condition was applied,

Where, the subscript n is the direction normal to the boundary.

5. Experiment Design

The model is initialized with zero initial velocity with 3-dimensional gridded temperature and salinity monthly climatology and realistic bathymetry. Model was forced with QSCAT/NCEP monthly wind stress in order that the model achieved the steady conditions. During the experimental stage it was forced with real time 6-hourly QSCAT/NCEP blended wind field superimposed with synthetic vortex (Carr & Elsberry, 1997) which provides the realistic cyclonic winds to BOB, and this was termed as experiment I and in experiment II heat plus salinity fluxes have also been included as surface thermal forgings. Model is integrated for 48 hours starting from 06UTC 27th Oct. to 06UTC 29th Oct. 1999. On 29th Oct. at about 06UTC cyclone made land fall, so model run was stopped. The upper ocean thermal features viz. SST, subsurface temperature fields, depth variations of temperature were output by the model. 6-hourly snapshots are stored for daily analysis.

6. Results and Discussion

Results yielded from the model simulations due to the TC05B, 1999 on the surface and subsurface thermal features in the upper ocean as ocean’s response to TC05B, 1999 are discussed here.

6.1. Sea Surface and Subsurface Temperature Cooling

SST is one of the most vital parameters in understanding the air-sea interaction processes, especially during severe weather events (storm). The model produced SST fields [experiments I (wind) and experiment II (wind + heat)] for the 28th Oct. and 29th Oct. due to TC05B, 1999 along with the observed (TMI ) SST for comparison purposes are shown in Figure 5. In the figures the track of the storm is superimposed over the SST plots and different days (25th to 29Th Oct. 1999) are labeled on the track during its life-cycle. Model simulated SST showed pronounced variations in the temperature fields. It could be seen that there is the significant reduction in SST due to the passage of the storm in both the experiments during 28th and 29th Oct. 1999. As the storm moved in the northwestwards, the cooler SST, coupled to the storm centre moved along with it, while warmer SST occurred behind it. A noteworthy feature of warming also reflected on the rear end of the storm. Though the maximum cooling in SST occurred beneath the storm centre, it is right asymmetric (biased) and confirms the findings as described in (Nelson 1998; Shay et al., 1993; Chu et al., 2000). Right biased could be attributed to the dominant wind stress (cyclonic winds) to right of the storm track. On 29th Oct. 1999 more drops in SST was reflected compared to the 28th Oct. 1999, at the same time more cooling was also revealed in experiment II, compared to the experiment I. It could be noticed that there is the time lag of ~24 hrs between the storm centre and the centre of maximum cooling. Model simulated SST is well comparable qualitatively with the observed TMI SST imageries (Figure 5). However, TMI imageries show patches of cooling in surface temperature left to the track also near the coastal region of shallow bathymetry. The cooling processes could be attributed to the mixing due to cyclonic wind stress, heat loss from the sea surface (latent and sensible heat fluxes, as shown in Figure 10), upwelling through surface divergence and entrainment mixing at the base of the surface homogeneous layer due to storm.

Figure 5. Model SST for 28th Oct. and 29th Oct. 1999 for experiment I (left panel) and experiment II (middle panel) compared with TMT SST (right panel). Tracks of the TC05B 1999 is superimposed and superscribed with different dates (25th to 29th Oct., 1999) on modeled SST maps

The SST plots of 2-days composite (ending on 29th Oct. 1999) of simulated SST are characterized with drop in SST in the wake of the cyclone and are in coherent upto certain extent with the TMI (3- days composite ending on 29th Oct. 1999, since TMI composite are available 3-day basis) imageries. 3-day composite of TMI imagery show pronounced cooling in the right side of the storm, whereas in model output in both the experiments it observed some warming also to the right of the storm and cooling has followed the storm track and beneath the system more cooling is reflected (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Model SST (2-day composite) for 29th Oct. 1999 for experiment I (left panel) and experiment II (middle panel) compared with TMI SST (3-day composite)(right panel). Tracks of the TC05B 1999 is superimposed and superscribed with different dates (25th to 29th Oct., 1999) on modeled SST maps

Model simulated SST anomaly showed the striking similarities when compared with TMI SST anomaly (Figure 7). The higher value of negative SST anomaly along the track is the indicative of the mixing and upwelling processes due to the moving storm. The model SST anomaly (model_simulated SST - monthly_Levitus SST ) amounting to ~(-5.0°C, maximum) is higher than the TMI SST anomaly (OI_TMI SST - Reynolds_climatology SST) (maximum value is ~ (- 3.0°C) ) for 29th Oct. 1999.This discrepancy in SST anomaly could be attributed to the background SST data used in determining the anomaly culled from different sources.

Figure 7. Model SST anomaly for 29th Oct. 1999 for experiment I (left panel) and experiment II (middle panel) compared with TMI SST anomaly (right panel). Tracks of the TC05B 1999 is superimposed and superscribed with different dates (25th to 29th Oct., 1999) on modeled SST maps
Figure 8. Model subsurface temperature fields for 50m & 100m depths and difference (50m-1m) & (100m-50m) depths for 29th Oct. 1999 for experiment I (left panel) and experiment II (right panel)

Modeled subsurface temperature fields for 29th Oct. 1999 for both the experiments I and II, for 50m and 100m depths respectively are shown in the Figure 8. It is obvious from the figures that storm impact in reducing the horizontal temperature distribution is significant at different depths. As the storm moved over surface waters its influence in reducing the temperature at the subsurface depths beneath the storm centre is noticed clearly in both the experiments. Cooling in subsurface temperature fields is more pronounced in experiment II, when the thermal forcing was also applied as compared to experiment I. However, storms impact on subsurface temperature field away from its centre is less pronounced.

The difference in temperature fields between the subsurface (50m) and surface (1m) (i.e., 50m - SST(1m)) and 100m and 50m (i.e., 100m-50m) depths, respectively for both the experiments for 28th and 29th Oct., 1999 are also illustrated (Figure 8). It could be seen that there is the marked variation in temperature fields. These differences came out to be about 4.00 (Maximum) for the depth difference of (1m-50m) and 3.00. (Maximum) for depth difference of (100m-50m), respectively indicating the diminishing impact of storm on subsurface temperature fields as depth increases. It could also be observed that at the surface (1m depth) values of temperature is higher as compared to the 50m and 100m depths. Similarly, temperature fields at 50 m depths are higher as compared to 100m depths. Bias in temperature cooling even at the subsurface depths could also be noticed in both the experiments.

Superimposed exhibit between the simulated SST and surface current for the experiment II (29th Oct., 1999) are illustrated in Figure 9. It could be noticed that SST cooling has followed the pattern of wind stress due to storm and surface current show surface divergence. Maximum values of current vector (arrows) are in the order of about 3.5 ms-1 and current are representing the surface divergence flow and SST cooling through upwelling.

Figure 9. Model SST superimposed with model surface current for 29th Oct. 1999 for experiment II
Figure 10. Latent heat flux (upper row) and sensible heat flux (lower row) on 28th Oct. 1999 (Left panel) and 29th Oct.1999 (right panel)

However, the preliminary results presented in this study may prove more convincing through the comparative study of model simulations of the thermal response of the upper ocean by taking the case of CAT 5 equivalent cyclone, other than TC05B, 1999 ( Super cyclone, CAT 5). Since TC05B, 1999 was the unique system in terms of its size, intensity (damage potential) and impact in the oceanic environment (open as well as shallow continental shelf region) of Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean). Moreover, sensitivity study of the thermal response of the upper ocean due to heat plus salinity flux along with momentum forcing (wind stress) and wind stress alone (only) is carried out as experiment I and experiment II, respectively and results are presented. Sensitivity to models low vs. high resolution grids, the choice of diffusion and viscosity, and model initialization through data assimilation using observed (Argo floats, buoy, ships, satellite/radar etc.) data may reproduce more realistic observed features.

7. Conclusions

This study used POM to investigate the oceanic thermal response associated with the TC05B, 1999 during post-monsoon season, when the storm was in its higher intensity over ocean during 27 to 29 the Oct. 1999. POM was forced with the wind and heat plus salinity flux forgings. Tropical cyclone wind model generated synthetic winds are superimposed with the satellite and reanalysis derived (QSCAT/NCEP) blended wind fields in order to force the model with reasonable and realistic cyclonic winds. Model simulated SST show maximum cooling beneath the storm, however right bias could also be noticed which confirms the earlier findings. Vigorous cooling occurs where the existing upper ocean homogeneous layer is shallow within a cyclonic eddy. The rapid reduction of SST due to upwelling is dominantly responsible for cooling the upper ocean near the storm center. Model SST cooling are in reasonable agreement with the TMI imageries qualitatively. SST anomaly show appropriate matching with the TMI imageries.

Subsurface temperature differences and cooling patterns are indicative of the storm effect upto the depth of 100m. Surface current superimposed with SST also show the divergence current beneath the storm centre and maximum cooling due to the divergence of surface water and upwelling of subsurface cooler waters. These highly divergent upper layer currents also generated the typical bias of maximum SST cooling to the right of the storm track.

The comparison of the 2-day modeled mean SST with 3-Day TMI SST (due to unavailability of the 2-day mean in TMI data source) are the limitations of the study. The case of Super cyclone equivalent as comparative study may be taken or case of similar studies may be illustrated for more confirmation of the results. The adoption of data assimilation techniques and quantitative verification of the tropical cyclone wind model may improve the model output. Similarly, modeling studies with good initialization and finer resolution using coupled model will be useful in detailed investigation of oceanic response to storm over North Indian Ocean.

Acknowledgement

Partial research grant (No.SR/FTP/ES-019/2003) from Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India as SERC_FTYS program (CAS, IIT Delhi) is kindly acknowledged. Thanks are gratefully acknowledged to Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program of Princeton University, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory of NOAA and Dynalysis of Princeton for Princeton Ocean Model (POM). Data sources QSCAT/NCEP, COADS, Levitus, NGDC are thankfully acknowledged. TRMM TMI data and images are produced by Remote Sensing Systems and supported by NASA’s Earth Science Information Partnership (ESIP): A federation of information site for Earth’ Science; and by TRMM science team. The editor and the anonymous reviewer are thankfully acknowledged for their constructive comments for the final version of the manuscript.

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