Impacts of the IOD-associated temperature and salinity anomalies on the intermittent equatorial undercurrent anomalies

• DOI: 10.1007/s00382-017-3961-x
• Publication Date: 2017-11-11T05:29:07Z
• Authors: Junde Li; Chujin Liang; Youmin Tang; Xiaohui Liu; Tao Lian; Zheqi Shen; Xiaojing Li
• Keywords: Temperature salinity diagrams; Momentum (technical analysis); Pressure gradient

The study of Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) has attracted a broad attention in recent years due to its strong response and feedback the Indian Ocean Dipole. In this paper, we first produce high-quality simulation three-dimensional temperature, salinity zonal current from 1982 2014, using high-resolution ocean general circulation model. On basis, with two sensitivity experiments, investigate role temperature anomalies driving enhancing EUC during positive IOD events by examining variation seasonal cycle diagnosing momentum budget along equatorial Ocean. Our results show that January–March, can appear entire all years, but August–November, reach eastern only events. analysis indicates pressure gradient force contributes most eastward acceleration currents subsurface. During events, negative subsurface exist Ocean, surface central resulting large drive August–November. Further, experiments indicate significantly impact force, playing leading EUC, while secondarily help intensify through increasing density impacting vertical advection