Indian Ocean Dipole Changes During the Last Interglacial Modulated by the Mean Oceanic Climatology

Abstract

Abstract Investigating the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) during the Last Interglacial (LIG) can advance knowledge of IOD behaviors in orbitally‐induced warmer‐than‐present scenarios. Based on multiple model outputs from the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project Phase 4, the analysis suggests reduced frequencies of the IOD compared to the preindustrial period. Spatially, the whole growing and mature stages of the IOD feature suppressed variability over the west and westward expansions of eastern anomalies, while the eastern perturbation enhances only at the initial phase. The overall amplitude assessed by the dipole mode index shows only minor reductions. These changes are attributed to orbitally‐induced enhancement in mean‐state westward currents along the equator, which transport more anomalous cold water westward. In addition, the subdued El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during the LIG is unlikely to cause a weakening of the IOD, in association with a less important role of ENSO in the formation of the IOD.

Keywords

• Indian Ocean
• atmosphere‐ocean interaction
• tropical variability
• Last Interglacial
• numerical modeling
• climate change