scholarly journals Explicit versus Parameterized Convection in Response to the Atlantic Meridional Mode

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 3343-3354
Author(s):  
Laura Paccini ◽  
Cathy Hohenegger ◽  
Bjorn Stevens
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Explicit Representation ◽  
Atmospheric Response ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Tropical Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Precipitation Response ◽  
Meridional Mode ◽  
Atlantic Meridional Mode ◽  
Sst Anomalies

AbstractThis study investigates whether the representation of explicit and parameterized convection influences the response to the Atlantic meridional mode (AMM). The main focus is on the precipitation response to the AMM-SST pattern, but possible implications for the atmospheric feedback on SST are also examined by considering differences in the circulation response between explicit and parameterized convection. On the basis of analysis from observations, SST composites are built to represent the positive and negative AMM. These SST patterns, in addition to the March–May climatology, are prescribed to the atmospheric ICON model. High-resolution simulations with explicit convection (E-CON) and coarse-resolution simulations with parameterized convection (P-CON) are used over a nested tropical Atlantic Ocean domain and a global domain, respectively. Our results show that a meridional shift of about 1° in the precipitation climatology explains most of the response to the AMM-SST pattern in simulations both with explicit convection and with parameterized convection. Our results also indicate a linearity in the precipitation response to the positive and negative AMM in E-CON, in contrast to P-CON. Further analysis of the atmospheric response to the AMM reveals that anomalies in the wind-driven enthalpy fluxes are generally stronger in E-CON than in P-CON. This result suggests that SST anomalies would be amplified more strongly in coupled simulations using an explicit representation of convection.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Atlantic Meridional Mode Using Linear Inverse Modeling: Seasonality and Regional Influences

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1194-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Vimont
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Inverse Modeling ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Boreal Spring ◽  
Meridional Mode ◽  
Atlantic Meridional Mode ◽  
Sst Anomalies

Abstract Predictability and variability of the tropical Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM) is investigated using linear inverse modeling (LIM). Analysis of the LIM using an “energy” norm identifies two optimal structures that experience some transient growth, one related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the other to the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO)/AMM patterns. Analysis of the LIM using an AMM-norm identifies an “AMM optimal” with similar structure to the second energy optima (OPT2). Both the AMM-optimal and OPT2 exhibit two bands of SST anomalies in the mid- to high-latitude Atlantic. The AMM-optimal also contains some elements of the first energy optimal (ENSO), indicating that the LIM captures the well-known relationship between ENSO and the AMM. Seasonal correlations of LIM predictions with the observed AMM show enhanced AMM predictability during boreal spring and for long-lead (around 11–15 months) forecasts initialized around September. Regional LIMs were constructed to determine the influence of tropical Pacific and mid- to high-latitude Atlantic SST on the AMM. Analysis of the regional LIMs indicates that the tropical Pacific is responsible for the AMM predictability during boreal spring. Mid- to high-latitude SST anomalies contribute to boreal summer and fall AMM predictability, and are responsible for the enhanced predictability from September initial conditions. Analysis of the empirical normal modes of the full LIM confirms these physical relationships. Results indicate a potentially important role for mid- to high-latitude Atlantic SST anomalies in generating AMM (and tropical Atlantic SST) variations, though it is not clear whether those anomalies provide any societally useful predictive skill.

scholarly journals Correction to: Weakened SST variability in the tropical Atlantic Ocean since 2000

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Prigent ◽  
Joke F. Lübbecke ◽  
Tobias Bayr ◽  
Mojib Latif ◽  
Christian Wengel
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Tropical Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Sst Variability

scholarly journals Simulated Dust Aerosol Impacts on Western Sahelian Rainfall: Importance of Ocean Coupling

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (22) ◽  
pp. 9107-9124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha K. Jordan ◽  
Anand Gnanadesikan ◽  
Benjamin Zaitchik
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Tropical Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Ocean Atmosphere ◽  
Sahel Region ◽  
Dust Precipitation

North Africa is the world’s largest source of mineral dust, and this dust has potentially significant impacts on precipitation. Yet there is no consensus in published studies regarding the sign or magnitude of dust impacts on rainfall in either the highly climate-sensitive Sahel region of North Africa or the neighboring tropical Atlantic Ocean. Here the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Climate Model 2 (GFDL CM2.0) with Modular Ocean Model, version 4.1 (MOM4.1), run at coarse resolution (CM2Mc) is applied to investigate one poorly characterized aspect of dust–precipitation dynamics: the importance of sea surface temperature (SST) changes in mediating the atmospheric response to dust. Two model experiments were performed: one comparing Dust-On to Dust-Off simulations in the absence of ocean–atmosphere coupling, and the second comparing Dust-On to Dust-Off with the ocean fully coupled. Results indicate that SST changes in the coupled experiment reduce the magnitude of dust impacts on Sahel rainfall and flip the sign of the precipitation response over the nearby ocean. Over the Sahel, CM2Mc simulates a net positive impact of dust on monsoon season rainfall, but ocean–atmosphere coupling in the presence of dust decreases the inflow of water vapor, reducing the amount by which dust enhances rainfall. Over the tropical Atlantic Ocean, dust leads to SST cooling in the coupled experiment, resulting in increased static stability that overrides the warming-induced increase in convection observed in the uncoupled experiment and yields a net negative impact of dust on precipitation. These model results highlight the potential importance of SST changes in dust–precipitation dynamics in North Africa and neighboring regions.

scholarly journals Impact of intraseasonal wind bursts on sea surface temperature variability in the far eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean during boreal spring 2005 and 2006: focus on the mid-May 2005 event

Ocean Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaëlle Herbert ◽  
Bernard Bourlès
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Kelvin Waves ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Gulf Of Guinea ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Tropical Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Boreal Spring ◽  
Wind Bursts

Abstract. The impact of boreal spring intraseasonal wind bursts on sea surface temperature variability in the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean in 2005 and 2006 is investigated using numerical simulation and observations. We especially focus on the coastal region east of 5° E and between the Equator and 7° S that has not been studied in detail so far. For both years, the southerly wind anomalies induced cooling episodes through (i) upwelling processes, (ii) vertical mixing due to the vertical shear of the current, and for some particular events (iii) a decrease in incoming surface shortwave radiation. The strength of the cooling episodes was modulated by subsurface conditions affected by the arrival of Kelvin waves from the west influencing the depth of the thermocline. Once impinging the eastern boundary, the Kelvin waves excited westward-propagating Rossby waves, which combined with the effect of enhanced westward surface currents contributed to the westward extension of the cold water. A particularly strong wind event occurred in mid-May 2005 and caused an anomalous strong cooling off Cape Lopez and in the whole eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. From the analysis of oceanic and atmospheric conditions during this particular event, it appears that anomalously strong boreal spring wind strengthening associated with anomalously strong Hadley cell activity prematurely triggered the onset of coastal rainfall in the northern Gulf of Guinea, making it the earliest over the 1998–2008 period. No similar atmospheric conditions were observed in May over the 1998–2008 period. It is also found that the anomalous oceanic and atmospheric conditions associated with the event exerted a strong influence on rainfall off northeast Brazil. This study highlights the different processes through which the wind power from the South Atlantic is brought to the ocean in the Gulf of Guinea and emphasizes the need to further document and monitor the South Atlantic region.

The barrier layer in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 2069-2072 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Pailler ◽  
B. Bourlès ◽  
Y. Gouriou
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Barrier Layer ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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