Western Indian Ocean SST bias of CMIP5 models

What is it about?

The formation of SST biases in Western Equatorial Indian Ocean is related to surface current biases induced by the weaker biases of southwesterly monsoon winds and SST biases over the southwestern equatorial Indian Ocean, which are advected by the East African Coastal Currents.

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Why is it important?

Previous studies have suggested that SST biases in CMIP5 models over the western Indian Ocean are linked to a weaker southwesterly summer monsoon. However, the processes that initiate the warm SST biases over the western equatorial Indian Ocean, which lead to the development of the IOD-like biases in fall, remain unclear.Our analysis revealed the importance of ocean currents in forming the early summer development of SST biases over the western equatorial Indian Ocean, which has not been examined fully in previous studies.

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