Abstract
We review the state-of-the-art knowledge of Tropical Atlantic Variability (TAV). A well-developed observing system and sustained effort of the climate modeling community have improved our understanding of TAV. It is dominated by the seasonal cycle, for which some mechanisms have been identified. The interannual TAV presents a marked seasonality with three dominant modes: (i) the Atlantic Zonal Mode (AZM), (ii) the Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM) and (iii) the variability in the Angola–Benguela Front (ABF). At longer time scales, the AMM is active and low-frequency variations in the strength, periodicity, and spatial structure of the AZM are observed. Also, changes in the mean position of the ABF occur. Climate models still show systematic biases in the simulated TAV. Their causes are model-dependent and relate to drawbacks in the physics of the models and to insufficient resolution of their atmospheric and oceanic components. The identified causes for the biases can have local or remote origin, involving the global ocean and atmospheric circulation. Although there is not a clear consensus regarding the role of model resolution in the representation of the TAV, eddy-resolving ocean models combined with atmospheric models with enhanced horizontal and vertical resolutions simulate smaller biases.
Highlights
The climate in the Tropical Atlantic (TA) shows significant seasonal to decadal variability
The improvement of our understanding of the Tropical Atlantic Variability (TAV) is important from the scientific point of view due to the impact that this variability has on the climate of Eastern South America and Western Africa, as well as due to the connections between the climate tropical Atlantic and the Pacific
The question has societal and environmental implications, as the TAV influences the marine and land ecological systems in the Atlantic and this has a significant impact on the societies of the implied countries
Summary
The climate in the Tropical Atlantic (TA) shows significant seasonal to decadal (and longer) variability (see e.g., [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]). Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and variations in regional surface winds [11] These atmospheric changes drive large- and regional-scale variations in the dynamics of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. The second one, referred to as the Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM), is characterized by a cross-equatorial gradient of SST and wind anomalies [17,21] Their patterns and seasonality will be addressed in detail later in the text. Its accurate prediction at seasonal and decadal timescales and consistent projections by climate models are highly demanded by society, industry, and stakeholders in order to prevent and mitigate potential damages associated with the tropical Atlantic SST variability (e.g., [5,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32]).
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