Diversity of the Austral Summer Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation in the Southwestern Indian Ocean

Abstract

Abstract The 10–20-day quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) is active in the southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO) during austral summer. Compared with comprehensive analyses of the QBWO in the Asian monsoon regions during boreal summer, studies focusing on the austral summer QBWO in the SWIO are relatively scarce. In this study, the diversity of the austral summer QBWO in the SWIO is examined based on K-means cluster analysis, which objectively classifies two distinct modes: an eastward-propagating mode (EM) and a poleward-propagating mode (PM). For the EM (PM), an active convection center originates from the subtropical ocean (tropical ocean) and exhibits an eastward (poleward) propagation path. Moisture budget analysis reveals that positive moisture time tendency anomalies show a phase-leading relationship relative to both QBWO convection centers. This phase leading in moisture tendency anomalies is mainly due to horizontal moisture advection. Further analysis demonstrates that meridional moisture transport (i.e., the summer mean moisture advected by the meridional quasi-biweekly wind) is fundamentally responsible for moisture phase leading in both QBWO modes in their mature phases. The combined scale interaction among low frequency, quasi-biweekly, and high frequency contributes to the initial movement for both modes in the growing phases. Although the two modes in the SWIO are initiated in different regions and exhibit distinct evolutionary features, they are regulated by similar moisture dynamics: the northerlies (northeasterlies) of the cyclonic wind response bring higher mean moisture levels east (south) of the convective center, which leads to the eastward (southward) movement of the EM (PM). Significance Statement The quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO), which can affect extreme weather events, such as extreme precipitation and heat waves, is active in the southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO) during austral summer. Compared with previous studies of the QBWO in the Asian monsoon regions during boreal summer, studies focusing on the austral summer QBWO in the SWIO are relatively scarce. Specifically, we objectively classify the austral summer QBWO in the SWIO into two distinct modes: an eastward-propagating mode (EM) and a poleward-propagating mode (PM). Through moisture tendency diagnosis, we find that the two QBWO modes are regulated by similar moisture dynamics, although they are initiated in different regions and exhibit distinct evolutionary features. This improved understanding may provide insights into the monitoring and prediction of the QBWO.