Low-frequency modulation of the Atlantic warm pool by the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation

Abstract

This paper investigates the low-frequency modulation of the Atlantic warm pool (AWP) by the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO). Consistent with previous study, it shows that the time series of AWP area varies in phase with the AMO on multidecadal timescales. However, the variability of AWP area is out of phase with the AMO: A small (large) variance of AWP area is associated with the AMO warm (cold) phase. In addition, the modulation of AWP area variability by the AMO has a large seasonality, with a small (large) modulation in summer (fall). The modulation of the annual AWP area variability is primarily determined by the low frequency changes in the Pacific ENSO and the local heat flux feedback, and countered by the low frequency changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation and the ocean mixed layer depth. The local heat flux feedback and mixed layer depth change also play important roles in the AMO-modulated seasonality of the AWP area variability.