A review of ocean-atmosphere interactions during tropical cyclones in the north Indian Ocean

The north Indian Ocean accounts for 6% of the global tropical cyclones annually. Despite the small fraction, some of the most devastating cyclones have formed in this basin, causing extensive damage to the life and property in the north Indian Ocean rim countries. In this review article, we highlight the advancement in research in terms of ocean-atmosphere interaction during cyclones in the north Indian Ocean and identify the gap areas where our understanding is still lacking. There is a two-way ocean-atmosphere interaction during cyclones in the north Indian Ocean. High sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of magnitude 28–29 °C and above provide favorable conditions for the genesis and evolution of cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. On the other hand, cyclones induce cold and salty wakes. Cyclone induced cooling depends on the translation speed of the cyclone, wind power input, ocean stratification, and the subsurface conditions dictated by the ocean eddies, mixed layer, and the barrier layer in the north Indian Ocean. The average cyclone-induced SST cooling is 2–3 °C during the pre-monsoon season and 0.5–1 °C during the post-monsoon season. This varying ocean response to cyclones in the two seasons in the Bay of Bengal is due to the difference in the ocean haline stratification, whereas, in the Arabian Sea, it is due to the difference in cyclone wind power input and ocean thermal stratification. The oceanic response to cyclone is asymmetric due to the asymmetry in the cyclone wind stress, cyclone induced rainfall and the dynamics of the ocean inertial currents. The cyclone induced wake is salty and is the saltiest in the Bay of Bengal among all the ocean basins. The physical response of the ocean to the cyclone is accompanied by a biological response also, as cyclones induce large chlorophyll blooms in the north Indian Ocean that last from several days to weeks. SSTs leading to cyclogenesis in the Arabian Sea are 1.2–1.4 °C higher in recent decades, compared to SSTs four decades ago. Rapid warming in the north Indian Ocean, associated with global warming, tends to enhance the heat flux from the ocean to the atmosphere and favor rapid intensification of cyclones. Monitoring and forecasting rapid intensification is a challenge, particularly due to gaps in in-situ ocean observations. Changes in ocean-cyclone interactions are emerging in recent decades in response to Indian Ocean warming, and are to be closely monitored with improved observations since future climate projections demonstrate continued warming of the Indian Ocean at a rapid pace along with an increase in the intensity of cyclones in this basin.