Atmospheric Response to SST in the Eastern Tropical Atlantic in July-August

Abstract

International audienceThe sea surface temperature (SST) in the EasternTropical Atlantic is characterized by a strong seasonalcycle. The SST becomes very warm in boreal summer inthe north, off Senegal / Mauritania, while a seasonal coldtongue takes place in the south, around the Equator.Along the zonally-extended SST maximum, theIntertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) corresponds to aregion of surface wind convergence and intenseprecipitation.The aim of this study is to document the SST control onthe seasonal evolution of the ITCZ latitude with aregional atmospheric model (WRF), by manuallyremoving any SST warming (« Frozen North ») orcooling (« Frozen South ») from June in the easternTropical Atlanti