Eddy Induced Trapping and Homogenization of Freshwater in the Bay of Bengal

Freshwater from rivers influences Indian summer monsoon rainfall and regional tropical cyclones by shallowing the upper layer and warming the subsurface ocean in the Bay of Bengal. Here, we use in situ and satellite data with reanalysis products to showcase how river water can experience a significant increase in salinity on subseasonal timescales. This involves the trapping and homogenization of freshwater by a cyclonic eddy in the Bay. Specifically, in October 2015, river water is shown to enter a particularly long-lived eddy along with its attracting manifolds within a period of two weeks. The eddy itself is quite unique in that it lasted for 16 months in the Bay where average lifespans are of the order of 2-3 months. This low salinity water results in the formation of a highly stratified surface layer. In fact, when freshest, the eddy has the highest sea-level anomalies, spins fastest, and supports strong lateral gradients in salinity. Subsequently, observations reveal progressive homogenization of salinity and relaxation of sea-level anomalies and salinity gradients within a month. In particular, salty water spirals in, and freshwater is pulled out across the eddy boundary. Lagrangian experiments elucidate this process, whereby horizontal chaotic mixing provides a mechanism for the rapid increase in surface salinity on the order of timescale of a month. This pathway is distinct from vertical mixing and likely to be important in the eddy-rich Bay of Bengal.