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A sea surface salinity dipole mode in the tropical Indian Ocean.
- Source :
-
Climate Dynamics . Oct2016, Vol. 47 Issue 7/8, p2573-2585. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Based on the 10 years sea surface salinity (SSS) data from Argo, we identified a salinity dipole mode in the tropical Indian Ocean, termed S-IOD: a pattern of interannual SSS variability with anomalously low-salinity in the central equatorial and high-salinity in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean. The S-IOD matures in November-December, lagging the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) mode derived from sea surface temperature (SST) by 2 months. For the period of observations, the S-IOD persists longer than the IOD, until the following September-October. Oscillations of the two S-IOD poles are governed by different processes. Ocean advection associated with equatorial current variability dominates the SSS anomalies of the northern pole, while surface freshwater flux variability plays a key role in the SSS anomalies of the southern pole, where anomalous precipitation is sustained by preformed sea surface temperature anomalies. The S-IOD concurs with the strong IOD, reflecting an ocean-atmosphere coupling through the SST-precipitation-SSS feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09307575
- Volume :
- 47
- Issue :
- 7/8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Climate Dynamics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 118328500
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-016-2984-z