Positive relationship between seasonal Indo-Pacific Ocean wave power and SST

Sukhwinder Kaur,Ian R Young,Evan Weller,Prashant Kumar

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-97047-3

Sukhwinder Kaur, Ian R Young + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97047-3

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Abstract

The influence of increasing sea surface temperatures (SSTs), in response to greenhouse warming, on wave power (WP) remains uncertain. Here, seasonal relationships between SST anomalies and mean and extreme WP over the Indo-Pacific Ocean are examined. Overall, seasonal WP has significantly increased over much of the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Ocean by 1.21–3.10 kW/m dec−1 over 1979–2019. Contributions from wave characteristics, namely significant wave height (SWH) and peak wave period (PWP), to changes in WP show that SWH contributes most in extra-tropical regions, and PWP most in tropical regions. Further, seasonal relationships between SST anomalies and WP indicate that increases in WP are also seen during strong El Niño years in December–February, and in-phase combinations of El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events during June–August and September–November. Results highlight both long-term increasing SSTs and climate variability roles for inducing large-scale seasonal WP changes throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Highlights

SWH contributes most to the WP in the extra-tropical regions of both hemispheres and PWP contributes most to WP in the tropical latitudes
This study investigated the interrelation between ocean warming (SST increases) and WP in the Indo-Pacific Ocean using ERA5 reanalysis data over the period 1979–2019 at different temporal and spatial scales
Such wave energy can be transferred into renewable energy by using various energy convertors along the coastline, and WP is an important climate indicator providing such information about the available renewable energy resources and its variability

Summary

Introduction

This study investigated the interrelation between ocean warming (SST increases) and WP in the Indo-Pacific Ocean using ERA5 reanalysis data over the period 1979–2019 at different temporal and spatial scales. Seasonal variations in the climatological patterns of the seasonal mean and extreme WP, SWH, and PWP reveal that large WPmax is evident in SO year-round, and strongest (lowest) in JJA (DJF), related primarily to an increase in SWH presumably from increased wind energy[21,25].

Results

Conclusion