TY - JOUR T1 - Mixed-layer salinity budget in the tropical Indian Ocean: seasonal cycle based only on observations A1 - Da-Allada,Casimir Yelognisse A1 - Gaillard,Fabienne A1 - Kolodziejczyk,Nicolas AD - CNRS Ifremer IRD UBO, IFREMER, LPO, UMR 6523, Plouzane, France. AD - Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 04, LOCEAN Lab, CNRS IRD MNHN, F-75005 Paris, France. AD - UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-015-0837-7 DO - 10.1007/s10236-015-0837-7 KW - Tropical Indian Ocean KW - Observations KW - Seasonal cycle KW - Mixed-layer salinity KW - Mixed-layer budget N2 - The mixed-layer salinity (MLS) budget in the tropical Indian Ocean is estimated from a combination of satellite products and in situ observations over the 2004-2012 period, to investigate the mechanisms controlling the seasonal MLS variability. In contrast with previous studies in the tropical Indian Ocean, our results reveal that the coverage, resolution, and quality of available observations are now sufficient to approach a closed monthly climatology seasonal salt budget. In the South-central Arabian Sea and South-western Tropical Indian Ocean (SCAS and STIO, respectively), where seasonal variability of the MLS is pronounced, the monthly MLS tendency terms are well captured by the diagnostic. In the SCAS region, in agreement with previous results, the seasonal cycle of the MLS is mainly due to meridional advection driven by the monsoon winds. In the STIO, contrasting previous results indicating the control of the meridional advection over the seasonal MLS budget, our results reveal the leading role of the freshwater flux due to precipitation. Y1 - 2015/06 PB - Springer Heidelberg JF - Ocean Dynamics SN - 1616-7341 VL - 65 IS - 6 SP - 845 EP - 857 ID - 38129 ER -