Interannual variability in the Biannual Rossby waves in the tropical Indian Ocean and its relation to Indian Ocean Dipole and El Nino forcing |
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Authors: | Chellappan Gnanaseelan Bakshi Hardeep Vaid |
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Institution: | (1) Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, 411008, India |
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Abstract: | The interannual variability of the tropical Indian Ocean is studied using Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) sea surface
height anomalies (SSHA) and Hadley Centre Ice Sea Surface Temperature anomalies. Biannual Rossby waves (BRW) were observed
along the 1.5° S and 10.5° S latitudes during the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) years. The SODA SSHA and its BRW components were
comparable with those of Topex/Poseidon. The phase speed of BRW along 1.5° S is −28 cm/s, which is comparable with the theoretical
speed of first mode baroclinic (equatorially trapped) Rossby waves. This is the first study to show that no such propagation
is seen along 1.5° S during El Nino years in the absence of IOD. Thus the westward propagating downwelling BRW in the equatorial
Indian Ocean is hypothesized as a potential predictor for IOD. These waves transport heat from the eastern equatorial Indian
Ocean to west, long before the dipole formation. Along 10.5° S, the BRW formation mechanisms during the El Nino and IOD years
were found to be different. The eastern boundary variations along 10.5° S, being localized, do not influence the ocean interior
considerably. Major portion of the interannual variability of the thermocline, is caused by the Ekman pumping integrated along
the characteristic lines of Rossby waves. The study provides evidence of internal dynamics in the IOD formation. The positive
trend in the downwelling BRW (both in SODA and Topex/Poseidon) is of great concern, as it contributes to the Indian Ocean
warming. |
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Keywords: | |
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