Formation and spreading of Arabian Sea high‐salinity water mass

The formation and seasonal spreading of the Arabian Sea High‐Salinity Water (ASHSW) mass were studied based on the monthly mean climatology of temperature and salinity in the Arabian Sea, north of the equator and west of 80°E, on a 2° × 2° grid. The ASHSW forms in the northern Arabian Sea during winter and spreads southward along a 24 sigma‐t surface against the prevailing weak zonal currents. The eastern extent of the core is limited by the strong northward coastal current flowing along the west coast of India. During the southwest monsoon the northern part of the core shoals under the influence of the Findlater Jet, while the southern part deepens. Throughout the year the southward extent of the ASHSW is inhibited by the equatorial currents. The atmospheric forcing that leads to the formation of ASHSW was delineated using the monthly mean climatology of heat and freshwater fluxes. Monsoon winds dominate all the flux fields during summer (June‐September), while latent heat release during the relative calm of the winter (November‐February) monsoon, driven by cool, dry continental air from the north, results in an increased density of the surface layer. Thus excess evaporation over precipitation and turbulent heat loss exceeding the radiative heat gain cool the surface waters of the northern Arabian Sea during winter and drive convective formation of ASHSW.