| Abstract | Climate in the South West Pacific region varies due to superimposed effects of El Niņo/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other signals including seasonal variations, global warming and natural decadal-scale variability. Ocean transport changes, driven by basin-scale winds, are the principal cause of temperature and salinity variability. Theory, numerical simulations and the few existing large-scale observational datasets suggest a complex regional ocean circulation. The goal of SPICE is to observe, model and understand the role of the Southwest Pacific ocean circulation in: (a) the large-scale, low- frequency modulation of climate from the Tasman Sea to the equator, and (b) the generation of local climate signatures whose diagnosis will aid regional sustainable development. The simultaneous large-scale and regional approach allows applications ranging from ENSO forecast improvement, to coral bleaching, cyclone trajectory or prediction of local ocean and climate conditions. |
