Observed variability of sea surface salinity and thermal inversions in the Lakshadweep Sea during contrast monsoons

The sea surface salinity (SSS) of the Lakshadweep Sea (LS) shows large seasonal variability due to horizontal advection of low (high) salinity waters from south (north) during winter (summer) monsoon. The measurements made in the LS during the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX), have shown a dramatic drop of 3.4 PSU in the SSS during the winter following an active (2003) monsoon that is double that of the drop of 1.7 PSU observed during the winter following a weak (2002) monsoon. The resultant near-surface thermal inversions also have shown large differences in the life cycle and depth of occurrence between these two winters.