Figure 5 | Scientific Reports

Figure 5

From: Peatland groundwater level in the Indonesian maritime continent as an alert for El Niño and moderate positive Indian Ocean dipole events

Figure 5

Diagram of the mechanisms of the IMC peatland—global climate link through the sea–air–land interactions. This response to two re-acknowledged processes between IMC convection—global atmospheric circulation and between IMC land water—tropical ocean, in addition to the well-studied process between tropical ocean—global atmosphere (TOGA). (a) Condition for the present climate with the IMC peatland forest and wetness (high GWL), convection and rainfall are generated by the land–sea temperature contrast (with diurnal cycle) and sufficiently wetland surface (high humidity in the lower atmosphere) in the IMC. The sea–surface temperature varying with ENSO and IOD makes flood (no-fire) and drought (peat and fire) well known. (b) Condition if the peatland is more and more degraded, the dry land suppresses convection in the IMC. Such suppression of the IMC convection appears in the El Niño (including Modoki) or IOD+ phases naturally at present, but the peat land degradation by human activities causes it perpetually, which makes the global climate (predicted as hothouse) beyond the tipping point.

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