Along with time scales of variability their are certain spatial scales of variability. In the Arabian Sea during the summer monsoon there is the establishment of the low-level cross equatorial Somali Jet. The intensity and direction of the Somali Jet governs the ocean's surface circulation underneath, causing it to flow to the northeast in summer and to the southwest in winter. Due to Ekman transport, the resulting movment over the entire water collumn is 90 degrees to the right of the surface flow in the northern hemisphere. Therefore in the summer the Somali Jet causes water to move away from the coast to be replaced with colder bottom water. This reduces the overall surface temperatureof the Arabian Sea and contributes to the increase in phytoplankton production.
The spatial variability can be seen in the distribution of flooding within a particular country. Bangledesh for instance has a wide variety of flooding domains within its borders.