The role of ocean dynamics within tropical Atlantic climate variability

Abstract

Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-180).Capitalising on the vast knowledge gained in the tropical Pacific, tropical Atlantic variability is viewed from an energetics perspective and contrasted against the Pacific at both seasonal and inter-annual timescales. The character of remotely forced thermocline depth variability is evaluated using available potential energy which succinctly quantifies the response of the upper equatorial ocean to large scale wind forcing. To facilitate the Atlantic-Pacific comparison, available potential energy values are derived from the temperature and salinity fields of two global ocean models