Interannual Subtropical Indian Ocean Variability due to Long Baroclinic Planetary Waves

Abstract

Low-frequency variability in the south Indian Ocean is studied by analyzing 200 years of output from a fully coupled climate model simulation. At time scales of 2–10 years, the variability is dominated by westward-propagating features that form on the eastern side of the basin. Using feature tracking and clustering, the spatiotemporal characteristics and preferred pathways of the propagating features are identified and studied in detail. By comparison of the phase speed and vertical structure of the propagating anomalies identified by the feature tracking with linear theory, we conclude that these features are likely mode 1 or 2 baroclinic planetary waves. The effects of this low-frequency variability on the climate system is investigated. By analysis of the mixed-layer temperature budget, it is shown that at particular geographic locations, the propagating features can substantially modify the near-surface ocean and induce significant fluxes of heat into the atmosphere. In turn, these heat fluxes can drive a coherent atmospheric response, although this response does not appear to feed back onto the ocean. Finally, we discuss the implications for the interannual climate predictability.