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Article: Intraseasonal Variability of Equatorial Indian Ocean Zonal Currents
- Article from:
- Journal of Climate
- Article date:
- July 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Meteorological Society Jul 1, 2007. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT
New satellite and in situ observations show large intraseasonal (10-60 day) variability of surface winds and upper-ocean current in the equatorial Indian Ocean, particularly in the east. An ocean model forced by the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) wind stress is used to study the d
ynamics of the intraseasonal zonal current. The model has realistic upper-ocean currents and thermocline depth variabilities on intraseasonal to interannual scales. The quality of the simulation is directly attributed to the accuracy of the wind forcing. At the equator, moderate westerly winds are punctuated by strong 10-40-day westerly wind bursts. The wind bursts force swift, intraseasonal (20-50 day) ...