Based on aerological observations over the Arabian Sea and adjoining north Indian Ocean, taken on board USSR research vessels during MONEX-1973, patterns of vergence of air and water vapour fluxes are studied. The influence of the Arabian Sea on the fluctuations in intensity of the summer monsoon over the west coast of India is shown. It is inferred that evaporation exceeds precipitation over the east Arabian Sea near the west coast of India even during active monsoon.A zonal cell with the ascending limb over the east Arabian Sea and the descending branch over the west Arabian Sea is proposed.

No abstract

Envelopes of storm surges generated by the Porbandar cyclone of 1975, Andhra Pradesh cyclone of 1977 and Pamban cyclone of 1978 are simulated on the computer. The locations and the magnitudes of peak storm surges are found to be in good agreement with observations.

Decadal variations of meteorological parameters, vig, temperature (surface air maximum temperature, minimum temperature and upper air up to middle troposphere), station level pressure and seasonal and annual rainfall are studied for the period 1901 to 1986 (upper air data available from 1951 onwards), Tests of significance applied to data series (stationwise as well as country as a whole) show that the temperatures are showing a decreasing trend in almost all the northern parts of the country (north of 23" N) and a rising trend in southern parts (south of 23"N), For the country as a whole, however, there is a small warming trend Atmospheric pressure shows a fall between second and third decades but does not indicate any significant change after 1930, Decadal analysis of seasonal (Jun-Sep) and annual rainfall indicates that the variations in rainfall are within the statistical limits.

The flux of air and moisture in the Bay of Bengal during Monex 1979 period when the Soviet ships were moving in that area, have been computed. It is found that the northward transport of air and moisture across the equator is confined only to the area west of 85 deg. E. Eastwards of 85 deg. E, the reversal of transport is found to occur .The computations of the air and moisture flux values have also been carried out for the central Bay of Bengal in July for the period when the ships were stationed there. Comparison between the AUK values for the comparatively strong and weak phases of monsoon reveals that while the northward flux does not show any appreciable variation, the eastward flux changes significantly, becoming; more than double during the strong phase as compared with that of the weak phase, both along the east coast and in the central Bay.