Cloud distributions over equatorial Indian Ocean as revealed by satellites

Abstract

The paper gives some satellite evidence to show that the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean (east of about 6O⁰E) experiences greater clouding than its western counterpart throughout the year, With a view to suggesting a possible explanation for this difference between the two parts of the ocean, the distribution of mean ocean surface temperature and barometric pressure for the period of the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE, 1963-64) was examined. The finding a suggest a semi-permanent vertical circulation cell with equatorial westerlies below, equatorial easterlies above, ascending branch over equatorial eastern Indian Ocean and descending branch over equatorial western Indian Ocean, Possible mechanisms for the formation of cloud clusters and cloud bands are briefly, discussed.