Sakova, I. V., CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric R, Hobart, Australia, Irina.Sakova@csiro.au
Meyers, G. ., Integrated Marine Observing System, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, Gary.Meyers@imos.org.au
Coleman, R. ., School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, Richard.Coleman@utas.edu.au

LOW-FREQUENCY VARIABILITY IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND ITS CONNECTION WITH INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE MODE IN 2006

Previous analysis of the low-frequency variability in the Indian Ocean using satellite altimeter sea surface height (SSH) (1992-2004) and the expendable bathy-thermograph temperature data (1989-2002) shows that in most regions of the ocean the low-frequency part of spectra (corresponding to signals with periods from six months to six years) is concentrated in five frequency bands: semi-annual, annual, 18-20 months, 3 years, and 4-6 years. Cooling of the sea surface temperature in autumn 2006 along Sumatra-Java coast in East Indian Ocean indicates the development of a new Indian Ocean Dipole event. We analyze the recent altimetry and wind data sets to investigate the spectral composition of this anomalous cooling process. We found that the 18-month signal starts to develop in 2003 and continues until the end of the data set in April 2007. The 18-month signal is the dominant variation throughout 2004 to 2006 and is largely responsible for the SSH anomalies near the Java coast in 2006.

Poster presentation

Presentation is given by student: Yes
Session #:006
Date: 03-03-2008
Time: 17:30 - 19:30