HR: 08:20h
AN: A51F-03    [Abstracts]
TI: The Meridional and Equatorial Modes of Tropical Atlantic Variability: Related?
AU: * Chang, C
EM: cychang1@mail.umd.edu
AF: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland College Park, Computer and Space Science Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
AU: Carton, J A
EM: carton@atmos.umd.edu
AF: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland College Park, Computer and Space Science Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
AU: Nigam, S
EM: nigam@atmos.umd.edu
AF: Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland College Park, Computer and Space Science Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
AU: Nigam, S
EM: nigam@atmos.umd.edu
AF: Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland College Park, Computer and Space Science Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States
AB: The leading interannual modes of Tropical Atlantic SST variability in Spring and Summer – the meridional and equatorial modes, respectively – are shown to be related, with the spring meridional mode leading into equatorial mode with a corresponding phase in summer. For example, if the meridional mode has warm SSTAs in southern tropical basin, the equatorial mode has warm SSTAs along the equator in summer; and vice-versa. It is shown that this modal linkage is not orchestrated by ENSO variability. The relationship between these modes and the variability of June-August African rainfall along the Coast of Guinea is also investigated. The mode relationship enhances the prospects for prediction of boreal summer rainfall over the Coast of Guinea.
DE: 1616 Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513)
DE: 4954 Sea surface temperature
DE: 9305 Africa
DE: 9325 Atlantic Ocean
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting