Dynamics and energy balance of the Hadley circulation and the tropical precipitation zones. Part II: sensitivity to meridional SST distribution

Abstract

A series of GCM experiments is performed in order to examine the dynamics of the time-averaged distribution of precipitation and Hadley circulation in low-latitude areas. The sensitivity to the latitudinal distribution of the globally prescribed sea surface temperature (SST) is examined. When the peak of SST is not at the equator but nearby, a single precipitation peak appears on the opposite side of the equator. When the latitude of the SST peak becomes high enough (about 15°), an abrupt jump of the precipitation peak is observed. Factors controlling the latitude of the precipitation zone are discussed. -from Author