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A Record-Breaking Indian Ocean Dipole: What Happened in 2021–2022?

Ankur Srivastava February 5, 2026

Left panel: The monthly Dipole Mode index (DMI), the Niño 3.4 index, and the relative Niño 3.4 index (RONI) from observational SST datasets: ERSST (bars), and the three-month running mean for ERSST, OISST and HadlSST (lines) for the period 2020–2022; Right Panel: A schematic illustrating the La Niña-induced anomalous Walker circulation over Indian longitudes, and the associated modulation of surface winds, Wyrtki jets and the anomalous heat content in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is generally considered a seasonal mode of variability, developing and decaying within a single year. During 2021–2022, however, negative IOD conditions persisted for approximately 19 months (Figure 1, top left), making this event the longest—and among the strongest—observed since reliable records began. This unusual persistence highlights important aspects of ocean–a ...[Read More]

Embark on an Auditory Scientific Adventure to the South Pole!

Jenna Balaguer January 14, 2025

Alongside SUNNA, an oceanographic robot as daring as it is curious, you will dive into a frozen and hostile environment to uncover its secrets. Over the course of seven episodes, our hero will gather invaluable scientific data to better understand the workings of the ocean, meeting the familiar inhabitants of this environment along the way. The Southern Ocean and Argo Profiling Float ...[Read More]

Sailing for Science: How Data from Sailing Races Advances Ocean Research

Jacqueline Behncke November 12, 2024

The tracks of the 33 competitors from the last Vendée Globe sailing race edition in 2020-21. (Credit: Erwan Rivault)

The Vendée Globe began on November 10th, with 44 participants embarking on the world’s toughest sailing race. This non-stop, single-handed round-the-world yacht race challenges skippers to circumnavigate the Southern Ocean. The race starts in France, traverses the North Atlantic, and heads directly into the Southern Ocean. Despite taking place during the austral summer, the conditions remain ...[Read More]