Indian Ocean Decadal Variability: A Review

Abstract

The international scientific community has highlighted decadal and multidecadal climate variability as a priority area for climate research. The Indian Ocean rim region is home to one-third of the world's population, mostly living in developing countries that are vulnerable to climate variability and to the increasing pressure of anthropogenic climate change. Yet, while prominent decadal and multidecadal variations occur in the Indian Ocean, they have been less studied than those in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This paper reviews existing literature on these Indian Ocean variations, including observational evidence, physical mechanisms, and climatic impacts. This paper also identifies major issues and challenges for future Indian Ocean research on decadal and multidecadal variability.