Opposite response of strong and moderate positive Indian Ocean Dipole to global warming

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 30 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41558-020-00943-1

The strength of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (pIOD) is set by sea surface temperature gradient across the equatorial Indian Ocean. Modelling shows warming will increase strong pIODs but decrease moderate pIODs, as faster surface warming in the west sets up conducive conditions for the strong events.