Tropical atlantic decadal oscillation and its potential impact on the equatorial atmosphere-ocean dynamics: A simple model study

Abstract

Simple coupled atmosphere-ocean models are used to study the potential influence of the tropical Atlantic Ocean decadal oscillation on the equatorial Atlantic atmosphere-ocean dynamics. Perturbing the model tropical Atlantic at the extratropics (25°-30°) with a decadal frequency, interhemispheric SST dipole mode emerges due to the wind-evaporation-SST feedback. Near the equator, a cross-equatorial oceanic gyre develops owing to the dipole-induced wind stress curl. Once formed, this oceanic gyre transports surface water across the equator from the cold to the warm hemisphere in the western boundary region and from the warm to the cold hemisphere in the Sverdrup interior. Interestingly, this occurs during both the positive and negative phases of the dipole oscillation, thus producing a persistent positive zonal SST gradient along the equator. Bjerknes-type feedback later kicks in to further strengthen the equatorial SST anomaly. Eventually, this feature grows to a quasi-stationary stage sustaining the equatorial westerly wind anomalies, thus also causing the depression (uplift) of the equatorial thermocline in the east (west), a condition similar to the Atlantic Niño. The dynamic relationship between the dipole SST oscillation and the equatorial thermocline suggests that a strengthening (weakening) of the dipole mode corresponds to a weakening (strengthening) of the equatorial thermocline slope. © 2008 American Meteorological Society.