Interannual Variability of the Dynamics and Thermodynamics of the Tropical Indian Ocean

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Interannual variability of the tropical Indian Ocean is studied with a reduced gravity, primitive equation, ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The OGCM is coupled to an atmospheric mixed layer model for surface heat flux computation. The seasonal simulation of sea surface temperatures (SST), current, and thermocline structures are in good agreement with observations and other models. The seasonal cycle of SST along the equator exhibits an eastward propagation with larger variability in the west. The interannual simulations are carried out over 1980–95 with interannual wind stresses and wind speeds but climatological data for solar radiation and cloudiness. The SST anomalies are smaller than 1°C over most of the basin and the leading EOF shows an ENSO-related warming. However, the correlation between the Southern Oscillation index and the time series of the leading EOF is only −0.51 and SST anomalies of similar magnitudes as an El Niño year appear in other years too. ENSO-related equatorial w... Abstract Interannual variability of the tropical Indian Ocean is studied with a reduced gravity, primitive equation, ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The OGCM is coupled to an atmospheric mixed layer model for surface heat flux computation. The seasonal simulation of sea surface temperatures (SST), current, and thermocline structures are in good agreement with observations and other models. The seasonal cycle of SST along the equator exhibits an eastward propagation with larger variability in the west. The interannual simulations are carried out over 1980–95 with interannual wind stresses and wind speeds but climatological data for solar radiation and cloudiness. The SST anomalies are smaller than 1°C over most of the basin and the leading EOF shows an ENSO-related warming. However, the correlation between the Southern Oscillation index and the time series of the leading EOF is only −0.51 and SST anomalies of similar magnitudes as an El Niño year appear in other years too. ENSO-related equatorial w...

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: