Climate Phenomena - Lecture Notes
1. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
The Indian Ocean Dipole is a climate phenomenon defined by the difference in sea surface temperatures
between the western and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean.
- In a positive IOD, the western Indian Ocean near Africa becomes warmer, leading to increased rainfall in
East Africa and droughts in Australia and Indonesia.
- In a negative IOD, the eastern Indian Ocean warms, bringing heavy rain to Indonesia and Australia, while
East Africa turns drier.
These temperature differences affect monsoon patterns and can have serious impacts on agriculture, marine
life, and weather systems around the Indian Ocean region.
2. Branch of Indian Ocean of Walker Cell
The Walker circulation is a large-scale pattern of air flow in the tropics, especially over the equator.
- In the Indian Ocean, the Walker Cell involves air rising over warm waters in the western basin and sinking
over cooler waters in the eastern basin.
This pattern influences rainfall and monsoon behavior across the Indian subcontinent and East Africa.
When the western Indian Ocean is unusually warm, this branch strengthens, leading to more intense
convection and rainfall in nearby regions. When it weakens, droughts or delayed monsoons can occur.
3. ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation)
Climate Phenomena - Lecture Notes
ENSO is a periodic fluctuation in temperature and pressure across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It
has three phases:
- El Niño (warm phase)
- La Niña (cool phase)
- Neutral phase (normal conditions)
ENSO affects weather across the globe, influencing rainfall, droughts, hurricanes, and temperature
anomalies. It disrupts wind patterns, upwelling, and ocean currents, impacting marine ecosystems and global
food supplies.
4. El Niño
El Niño is the warm phase of ENSO, marked by:
- Weakened trade winds
- Eastward shift of warm waters in the Pacific
- Reduced upwelling off South America
This leads to flooding and heavy rainfall in the Americas and droughts in Asia and Australia. Fisheries suffer
due to decreased nutrients in the ocean surface. El Niño events usually last 9-12 months and recur every few
years.
5. La Niña
La Niña is the cool phase of ENSO, marked by:
Climate Phenomena - Lecture Notes
- Strengthened trade winds
- Enhanced upwelling
- Cooler sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific
La Niña typically causes more rain in Southeast Asia and Australia, while creating dry conditions in South
America. It may also intensify Atlantic hurricanes and supports stronger monsoons. Its effects often mirror
those of El Niño but can still be disruptive.
6. Ekman Transport
Ekman transport is the net movement of surface water due to wind and Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect).
- In the Northern Hemisphere, water moves 90° to the right of the wind direction.
- In the Southern Hemisphere, it moves 90° to the left.
This creates coastal upwelling when wind blows along the shore, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the
surface. Ekman transport is crucial for marine productivity, supporting major fisheries and influencing climate
patterns.
