ENSO Explains the Link Between Indian Ocean Dipole and Meridional Ocean Heat Transport

Indian Ocean meridional heat transport (MHTIO) drives climate and ecosystem impacts, through changes to ocean temperature. Improved understanding of natural variability in tropical subtropical MHTIO is needed contextualize observations future projections. Previous studies suggest that El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Dipole (IOD) can drive MHTIO. However, it unclear whether internally generated IOD MHTIO, or if the apparent relationship between arises because both are modulated by ENSO. Here, we use a model experiment which dynamically removes ENSO determine role forced on We find not linked anomalies Nevertheless, internal atmospheric significant variability. There little evidence for decadal multidecadal suggesting this may be region where an anthropogenic trend rises above level sooner.