How do tropical – extratropical, tropospheric – stratospheric interactions influence monsoon variations?
Given the enormous societal impacts of monsoon rainfall variability in the Indo-Pacific region, there are compelling reasons to develop coordinated field modeling and analysis programs to address these questions. The Panel recognized however that present in situ data bases are inadequate to address many of the outstanding issues related to monsoons. Hence, it recommended that consideration be given to pilot studies designed to enhance the climate data base in the tropical Indian Ocean. It furthermore noted that a pilot scale moored measurement program, appropriately designed, could provide high accuracy time series data capable of addressing some of the unanswered questions about ocean-atmosphere interactions in this part of the world oceans. Regions identified as urgently in need of study from an ocean-atmosphere interaction perspective included the Bay of Bengal and the eastern equatorial/south tropical Indian Ocean. The TAO Panel will coordinate with the CLIVAR Monsoon Panel and the
