On dipole-like variability in the tropical Indian Ocean.

Baquero-Bernal, A. and Latif, Mojib (2001) On dipole-like variability in the tropical Indian Ocean. Open Access . Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie: Report, 326 . Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany, pp. 1358-1368, 21 pp. DOI 10.1175/1520-0442(2002)015<1358:ODVOSS>2.0.CO;2.

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Supplementary data:

Abstract

The interannual variability of the tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) is studied with observational data and a hierarchy of coupled general circulation models (CGCMs). Special attention is given to the question whether an oscillatory dipole mode exists in the tropical Indian Ocean region with centers east and west of 80°E. Our observational analyses indicate that dipole-like variability can be explained as an oscillatory mode only
in the context of ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation).
A dipole-like structure in the SST anomalies independent of ENSO was found also. Our series of coupled model experiments shows that ocean dynamics is not important to this type of dipole-like SST variability. It is forced
by surface heat flux anomalies that are integrated by the thermal inertia ofthe oceanic mixed layer, which reddens the SST spectrum.

Document Type: Report (Research Report)
Keywords: Meteorology; Climatology; Atmosphere; climate; Indian Ocean
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: Yes
Publisher: Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie
Date Deposited: 13 Feb 2012 13:04
Last Modified: 08 Aug 2019 07:00
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/13693

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