Important synoptic features during INDOEX IFP-99

INDOEX IFP-99 was undertaken as part of the international experiment in the Indian Ocean to take observations pertaining to aerosols, radiation, cloud physics and other related meteorological parameters. The important-aim of the INDOEX was to quantify radiative forcing due to natural and anthropogen ic aerosols and their feedback on regional and global climate systems. Sinc e prevailing circulation features transports aerosols, it is essential that important synoptic patterns during the expedition phase, i.e, 20 January t o 10 March 1999 be examined. Based on the synoptic features it was noticed that cross-equatorial flow in lower levels from western Arabian Sea to sout hern Indian Ocean was significantly higher than the eastern Arabian Sea. Tw o cyclonic storms, one in the south Bay of Bengal during 1-3 February and a nother in the south Indian Ocean during 4-13 March were observed, Significa nt changes in the cross-equatorial flow in the lower/upper tropospheric lev els and ITCZ locations were noticed.