On Dipolelike Variability of Sea Surface Temperature in the Tropical Indian Ocean

Abstract

The interannual variability of the tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) is studied with observational data and a hierarchy of coupled general circulation models (CGCMs). Special attention is given to the question of whether an oscillatory dipole mode exists in the tropical Indian Ocean region with centers east and west of 80E. These results indicate that dipolelike variability can be explained as an oscillatory mode only in the context of El Nin o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).