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Oceans
Effect of ocean mesoscale variability on the mean state of tropical Atlantic climate
Article first published online: 9 MAY 2006
DOI: 10.1029/2005GL025651
Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , , and (2006), Effect of ocean mesoscale variability on the mean state of tropical Atlantic climate, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L09606, doi:10.1029/2005GL025651.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 MAY 2006
- Article first published online: 9 MAY 2006
- Manuscript Accepted: 31 MAR 2006
- Manuscript Revised: 28 MAR 2006
- Manuscript Received: 29 DEC 2005
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
[1] A regional coupled ocean-atmospheric model is used to investigate the effect of oceanic mesoscale features on the mean climate of the tropical Atlantic. It is shown that, compared to a non-eddy resolving ocean model, resolving oceanic mesoscale variability leads to a cooler mean equatorial cold tongue and a cooler coastal upwelling zone. This changes the meridional SST gradient, and the resulting weaker low-level convergence reduces the mean of rainfall in the marine Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The reduced rainfall and the cooler coastal upwelling regions represent a clear improvement of the model solution.