Identifying Spatially Coherent Marine Heatwave Patterns in the North Indian Ocean

Marine heatwaves are characterized by extended periods of warm ocean water formation in a specific area. These catastrophic events have become more common across the global oceans in recent decades, posing a serious threat to ocean ecosystems and coastal populations. Studies have also revealed that the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves in the Indian Ocean have increased significantly in the past few decades. Previous studies of marine heatwaves in the Indian Ocean often focused on the large-scale patterns or individual heatwave events, failing to address the regional differences in their characteristics. To fill this gap, we are employing a cluster analysis technique to identify spatially homogeneous zones in the North Indian Ocean that exhibit distinct marine heatwave patterns. In this study, we delineate marine heatwaves and characterize them based on their metrics, such as maximum intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of an event, using a long-term dataset of sea surface temperature.  Our findings reveal a diverse regional mosaic of marine heatwave characteristics. We detect distinct clusters of regions with similar heatwave patterns and regions experiencing intense and prolonged heatwaves, pointing out areas more prone to warming episodes. The findings provide crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms driving marine heatwaves and their potential impacts on marine ecosystems and fisheries. Understanding the regional heterogeneity of marine heatwaves allows us to predict better and mitigate their consequences,  producing more resilient coastal populations and marine ecosystems.