The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Extreme 2023–2024 Indian Ocean Basin Warming Triggered by Oceanic Heat Redistribution
ID:424 Oral Presentation

2027-01-13 09:15 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 50 - Indo-Pacific Ocean Dynamics and Tropical Climate

Abstract
In 2023–2024, an exceptionally strong Indian Ocean Basin (IOB) warming event occurred following an extreme positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and coincided with a strong El Niño. A unique feature of this event was the unprecedented and widespread warming in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean (ETIO) during boreal winter (DJF). Unlike previous IOB events (e.g., 1997–1998, 2015–2016, and 2019–2020), where anomalous air-sea heat exchange played a crucial role, the 2023–2024 ETIO warming was primarily driven by oceanic processes. We find that nonlinear zonal and vertical advections played a leading role in triggering the ETIO warming in December, with meridional advections sustaining and broadening the warming through February. This oceanic response reflects distinct dynamical changes in the Walker circulation associated with the co-occurrence of strong positive IOD and El Niño events. Our results highlight the critical role of anomalous atmospheric circulation in modulating oceanic heat redistribution, ultimately triggering the extreme 2023–2024 IOB warming.
 
Speaker
Lei Huang University of Miami

Author
Lei Huang University of Miami

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

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    • Mar 31

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