JAKARTA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia and China launched Monday a joint marine scientific expedition to learn unique ocean-atmospheric interactions that result in a climate mode known as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

    The expedition is part of collaboration of Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and China's State Oceanic Administration.

    For the next three years, researchers from both countries will study the climate mode that occurs inter-annually in the tropical parts of the Indian Ocean.

    The IOD results in climate anomaly, a periodic oscillation of sea-surface temperatures between the ocean's western and eastern parts, whose respective surface becomes warmer and cooler at the same time.

    The Indonesian government said in a statement that it sends 10 researchers from universities and state agencies to cooperate with 10 Chinese colleagues led by Dr. Yu Weidong to study the phenomenon that largely affects climate in countries along the Indian Ocean.

    The expedition follows the signing of the memorandum of understanding on marine cooperation between China and Indonesia here on Saturday.