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Dynamic Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling: A Thermostat for the Tropics
1D.-Z. Sun, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307, USA. Z. Liu, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 24, 1996
Summary
Ocean currents are driven by winds, which are influenced by sea-surface temperature (SST) differences. This atmosphere-ocean coupling may naturally limit tropical Pacific SSTs, even without cloud effects.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Atmospheric Science
- Climate Science
Background:
- Ocean currents in the tropical Pacific are crucial for heat and moisture transport.
- Surface winds play a key role in driving these ocean currents.
- Sea-surface temperature (SST) gradients are known to influence atmospheric patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic coupling between the atmosphere and ocean in the tropical Pacific.
- To understand the feedback mechanisms influencing sea-surface temperatures.
- To determine if intrinsic ocean-atmosphere interactions can limit tropical Pacific SSTs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of observational data on ocean currents and sea-surface temperatures.
- Atmospheric modeling to simulate wind-SST interactions.
- Investigating the role of surface wind-SST feedback loops.
Main Results:
- Ocean currents between the western and eastern tropical Pacific are primarily driven by surface winds.
- Surface winds are significantly influenced by sea-surface temperature differences between the two regions.
- A strong dynamic coupling exists between the tropical Pacific ocean and atmosphere.
Conclusions:
- The inherent coupling between the atmosphere and ocean may act as a natural thermostat.
- This coupling can limit sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific to below 305 Kelvin.
- These findings hold true even when excluding the effects of cloud feedbacks.