01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-04-0212 |
| Title of Abstract | Upper oceanic processes driving sea surface temperature variability in the Southwestern Tropical Indian Ocean: An ocean-reanalysis study |
| Authors | Madhusmita Jena* |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar |
| Address | PO Tala Telenga Bazar, Rajabagicha Cuttack, Odisha, India Pincode: 753009 E-mail: 24CL05005@iitbbs.ac.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Poster |
| Abstract | The southwestern tropical Indian Ocean is characterized by the presence of warmer sea surface temperature throughout the annual cycle which plays a significant role in the progression of the Indian summer monsoon system and the overall atmospheric circulation in the northern hemisphere. SST variability over this thermocline ridge have found to be serving a critical role in regional climate, air⿿sea interaction, and marine ecosystems. Previous studies have primarily linked SST changes in this region to local processes such as surface flux anomalies and upwelling, or to remote forcing from tropical modes like El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). However, the impact of Indian Ocean basin-wide warming as well as the contribution of other large-scale climate drivers, including the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) in governing the SST variability and associated air-sea interaction processes remain to be better understood. The impact of marine heatwave events over this region in the recent decades also needs to be better understood. This study aims to investigate the upper-oceanic mechanisms influencing SST variability in the southwestern tropical Indian Ocean across seasonal to interannual timescales. Using an eddy resolving ocean as well as atmospheric reanalysis data and available observational datasets, the mixed-layer processes governing the SST variability over the study region is investigated. A quantitative evaluation on the role of ambient atmospheric conditions and remote forcing is studied. The statistical linkages between SST anomalies and major climate indices will be explored and the event-based analysis of high SST anomalies will be discussed. The findings are expected to provide important implications to the relative importance of local and remote drivers of upper oceanic thermohaline properties and improve understanding of factors controlling SST variability in this climatically significant region. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Marine heatwaves, Sea surface temperature(sst) variability, Southern Annular Mode(SAM), Southern Tropical Indian Ocean, air-sea interaction, |
| For Awards | no |