HR: 10:50h
AN: A32B-03    [Abstracts]
TI: On the Interannual Variability of the Eastern Pacific Warm Pool
AU: * Zavala-Hidalgo, J
EM: jzavala@atmosfera.unam.mx
AF: Centro de Ciencias de la Atmosfera, UNAM, Circuito Exterior s/n, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacan, MEXICO CITY, DF 04510, Mexico
AU: Zamudio, L
EM: luis.zamudio@nrlssc.navy.mil
AF: Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, FSU, 2035 E. Paul Dirac Dr. Johnson Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32306-2840, United States
AU: Hogan, P
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, MS , United States
AU: Metzger, J
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, MS , United States
AB: The variability of the Eastern Pacific Warm Pool (EPWP) is studied analyzing observations from the Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System, results from the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM), and sea surface height anomaly data. Results indicate that the EPWP strengthens and weakens, but remains throughout the year. The monthly variability of the EPWP is primarily forced by the surface heat fluxes (SHF), which generate the EPWP's May (January) maximum (minimum) coverage of ~4,000,000 (~30,000) km2 and the July mid-summer minimum of ~2,300,000 km2. In addition to the SHF the interannual variability of the EPWP is influenced by the coastal-warm-water advected poleward by the Costa Rica Coastal Current and interannual coastally-trapped- waves (CTWs). During its poleward propagation the interannual CTWs generate westward propagating long Rossby waves that advect the coastal-warm-water offshore, contributing to the westward strengthening of the EPWP. Furthermore, it is shown that the dimensions of the EPWP increase (decrease) during El Niño (La Niña) years.
DE: 4200 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL
DE: 4215 Climate and interannual variability (1616, 1635, 3305, 3309, 4513)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly