Sea surface temperature anomalies in the South Indian ocean : observations and atmospheric modelling

Sea surface temperature (SSTs) variations in the South Indian Ocean have been found to influence rainfall over Southern Africa. As one of the modes of South Indian Ocean SST variability, the subtropical South Indian Ocean dipole is observed to be associated with dry and wet summer conditions over Southern Africa. The positive phase of the subtropical South Indian Ocean dipole is characterized by warm SST anomalies in the southwest South Indian Ocean and cool SST anomalies in the southeast. This phase is associated with above average summer rainfall over the subcontinent. The negative phase is associated with dry conditions over Southern Africa and is characterized by cool SST anomalies in the southwest and warm anomalies in the southeast South Indian Ocean. In order to investigate the atmospheric response over Southern Africa to this phenomenon, this study uses the MM5 regional climate model in which the model is forced with a warm pole SST anomaly south of Madagascar.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Hansingo, Kabumbwe

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Reason, Chris

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4860

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/4860