Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in the Tropical Indian Ocean Based on Laser Direct Infrared Imaging and Microwave-Assisted Matrix Digestion

Spectral remote sensing reflectance (Rrs(λ), sr−1) is one of the most important products of ocean color satellite missions, where accuracy is essential for retrieval of in-water, bio-optical, and biogeochemical properties. For the Indian Ocean (IO), where Rrs(λ) accuracy has not been well documented, the quality of Rrs(λ) products from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer onboard both Terra (MODIS-Terra) and Aqua (MODIS-Aqua), and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite onboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership spacecraft (VIIRS-NPP), is evaluated and inter-compared based on a quality assurance (QA) system, which can objectively grade each individual Rrs(λ) spectrum, with 1 for a perfect spectrum and 0 for an unusable spectrum. Taking the whole year of 2016 as an example, spatiotemporal pattern of Rrs(λ) quality in the Indian Ocean is characterized for the first time, and the underlying factors are elucidated. Specifically, QA analysis of the monthly Rrs(λ) over the IO indicates good quality with the average scores of 0.93 ± 0.02, 0.92 ± 0.02 and 0.92 ± 0.02 for VIIRS-NPP, MODIS-Aqua, and MODIS-Terra, respectively. Low-quality (~0.7) data are mainly found in the Bengal Bay (BB) from January to March, which can be attributed to the imperfect atmospheric correction due to anthropogenic absorptive aerosols transported by the northeasterly winter monsoon. Moreover, low-quality (~0.74) data are also found in the clear oligotrophic gyre zone (OZ) of the south IO in the second half of the year, possibly due to residual sun-glint contributions. These findings highlight the effects of monsoon-transported anthropogenic aerosols, and imperfect sun-glint removal on the Rrs(λ) quality. Further studies are advocated to improve the sun-glint correction in the oligotrophic gyre zone and aerosol correction in the complex ocean–atmosphere environment.

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A biological Indian Ocean Dipole event in 2019

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81410-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wei Shi ◽

Menghua Wang

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Indian Ocean ◽

Indian Ocean Dipole ◽

Infrared Imaging ◽

Equatorial Indian Ocean ◽

The West ◽

Indian Ocean Dipole Event ◽

Chl A ◽

Positive Indian Ocean Dipole ◽

Dipole Response

AbstractThe 2019 positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event in the boreal autumn was the most serious IOD event of the century with reports of significant sea surface temperature (SST) changes in the east and west equatorial Indian Ocean. Observations of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) between 2012 and 2020 are used to study the significant biological dipole response that occurred in the equatorial Indian Ocean following the 2019 positive IOD event. For the first time, we propose, identify, characterize, and quantify the biological IOD. The 2019 positive IOD event led to anomalous biological activity in both the east IOD zone and west IOD zone. The average chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration reached over ~ 0.5 mg m−3 in 2019 in comparison to the climatology Chl-a of ~ 0.3 mg m−3 in the east IOD zone. In the west IOD zone, the biological activity was significantly depressed. The depressed Chl-a lasted until May 2020. The anomalous ocean biological activity in the east IOD zone was attributed to the advection of the higher-nutrient surface water due to enhanced upwelling. On the other hand, the dampened ocean biological activity in the west IOD zone was attributed to the stronger convergence of the surface waters than that in a normal year.

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Seasonality and Dynamics of Atmospheric Teleconnection from the Tropical Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific to West Antarctica

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12070849 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 849

Author(s):

Hyun-Ju Lee ◽

Emilia-Kyung Jin

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Rossby Wave ◽

Tropical Indian Ocean ◽

Western Pacific ◽

Tropical Region ◽

Formation Mechanisms ◽

West Antarctica ◽

Background Flow ◽

The Impact ◽

The Western Pacific

The global impact of the tropical Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific (IOWP) is expected to increase in the future because this area has been continuously warming due to global warming; however, the impact of the IOWP forcing on West Antarctica has not been clearly revealed. Recently, ice loss in West Antarctica has been accelerated due to the basal melting of ice shelves. This study examines the characteristics and formation mechanisms of the teleconnection between the IOWP and West Antarctica for each season using the Rossby wave theory. To explicitly understand the role of the background flow in the teleconnection process, we conduct linear baroclinic model (LBM) simulations in which the background flow is initialized differently depending on the season. During JJA/SON, the barotropic Rossby wave generated by the IOWP forcing propagates into the Southern Hemisphere through the climatological northerly wind and arrives in West Antarctica; meanwhile, during DJF/MAM, the wave can hardly penetrate the tropical region. This indicates that during the Austral winter and spring, the IOWP forcing and IOWP-region variabilities such as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Indian Ocean Basin (IOB) modes should paid more attention to in order to investigate the ice change in West Antarctica.

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