| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-1.3-0188 |
| Title of Abstract | Marine Heatwaves in the Southern Ocean and their role in air-sea interaction |
| Authors | Gurumoorthi K*, Alvarinho J. Luis |
| Organisation | National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) |
| Address | NCPOR, GOA Vasco da Gama, Goa, India Pincode: 403804 E-mail: guruoceantech@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are prolonged periods of anomalously warm ocean temperatures exceeding the 90th percentile threshold. This study examines MHWs in the Southern Ocean from 1982 to 2022, revealing pronounced spatial and temporal variability in their frequency, intensity, and duration. MHWs occurred more frequently (≈0.4 events per decade) and with greater intensity north of 65°S, particularly during summer, with a sharp rise after 2008 linked to anthropogenic warming. Climate modes such as El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) notably enhanced MHW activity in the Ross Sea during spring and autumn. A major 2013 MHW event exemplified extreme subsurface warming, with temperatures reaching 6.2 °C at 120 m depth, indicating vertical heat propagation and increased ocean heat content. These results highlight the strong coupling between oceanic and atmospheric processes driving MHW variability and provide critical insights into the Southern Ocean¿s response to ongoing climate change. |
| Keywords | Marine heatwaves, Southern Ocean, Climate indices, Air-sea interaction |