A study of the Indian Ocean Dipole Mode dynamics using satellite observations and MICOM simulations

The Dipole Mode (DM) in the Indian Ocean is a new interannual feature and little exists in the literature detailing its behavior. The intention here is to characterize the oceanic behavior associated with the DM and make comparisons with existing hypotheses of DM evolution. Where current hypotheses fail, new conceptual models will be constructed. The specific mechanisms involved in the generation and demise of the DM remain the subject of investigation. In this study we will examine and diagnose the thermodynamic oceanic processes associated with the DM cycle using Miami Isopycnal Coordinate Ocean Model (MICOM) and satellite observations derived from the Topex/Poseidon sea level anomaly, and TRMM sea surface temperature. The relationship between oceanic planetary waves and the DM is suggested.

special session on Air-sea Interaction Studies Using Satellite Observations.