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1. Objective
To understand mechanism of the Indian Ocean's variation and importance of the Indian Ocean for global climate system, we develop new-type of buoy, which observe sea surface heat flux components and ocean temperature and salinity in the upper layer, and deployed in the eastern Indian Ocean, which makes a part of basin wide moored buoy array in the Indian Ocean under a cooperative framework among surrounding countries.
Development of buoy array in the Indian Ocean enhances an understanding of variation mechanism of climate system including hydrological cycle in Asia-Pacific region, and contributes improvement of predictability for climate change.
2. Unique features of the Indian Ocean
Geography of the Indian Ocean is unique among the three tropical ocean basins. The Asian landmass restricts the Indian Ocean to south of about 25 N. Therefore, it cannot transport heat gained in the tropics to the higher northern latitudes, as the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans do. In addition to the northern boundary, it is also unique that the Indian Ocean has a low-latitude opening in its eastern boundary. As a result, additional heat is gained from the Pacific Ocean via the Indonesian Throughflow. The movement of heat around the ocean and exchange with the atmosphere is highly variable in time. Moreover, seasonal heating over the landmass bring dramatic monsoonal wind reversals and intense summer rains over the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
3. Scientific Interest
Corresponding to the unique geographical features, the Indian Ocean plays a unique role in the variation of regional and global climate systems. Although a limited historical record of oceanographic observations, the important research issues have been identified. The key issues, which concerns our objectives, are:
- Intraseasonal variability, in particular the role of air-sea interaction
- Wyrtki Jet, in particular relation to intraseasonal variability
- Monsoon variability, in particular the role of Ocean's effect
- Indian Ocean dipole mode - Ocean mixed layer variability
- Salinity variability
4. Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS)
The Indian Ocean Panel (IOP), sponsored by the Climate Variability and Predictability Program (CLIVAR) and Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), has developed a plan for systematic, sustained and comprehensive in situ observations in the Indian Ocean to complement both present and planned space-based satellite measurements. These include Algo floats, drifting buoys, tide gauge stations, ship-of-opportunity expendable bathythermograph (XBT) lines, a basin scale moored buoy array, some specialized measurements for the Indonesian Throughflow, western boundary currents and so on. The totality of these efforts is referred to as Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS). IOMICS also contributes IndOOS.
