THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION AND WATER CHARACTERISTICS AROUND MAURITIUS GROUP OF ISLANDS

Conventional hydrocast data together with XBT soundings, collected during September-October 1987, in the area lying between 10-degrees-S to 20-degrees-S and 56-degrees-E to 62-degrees-E encompassing the Seychelles-Mauritius ridge, have been examined to project the thermohaline structure and geostrophic flow fields. In the study area, geostrophic circulation shows a predominant westerly flow. This flow on crossing the ridge zone triggers the meridional rise of isotherms towards the northern latitudes from depths of 300 to 500 m. This type of flow gives rise to possible upwelling in the western region, which is also supported by increased levels of nutrients and biomass.