Low frequency variation of sea surface salinity in the tropical Atlantic

Abstract

Examination of the observational record suggests that the near-surface waters in the tropical Atlantic underwent a major salinification during the twenty-five year period 1960-1985 at a rate of 0.1 psu/decade. A reversal of this trend has occurred during the most recent decade. While year-to-year changes in salinity are related to precipitation, we attribute decadal changes in salinity at least in part to low frequency changes of winds in the deep tropics and their role in altering both upwelling and possibly, evaporation rates. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.