The spatiotemporal evolutions of equatorial Atlantic sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) during Atlantic Niño events and the associated climate impacts on the surrounding continents are extremely diverse. In this study, we construct longitude-time maps of equatorial Atlantic SSTAs for each observed Atlantic Niño event during 1948-2019 and perform a spatiotemporal empirical orthogonal function analysis to identify the four most frequently recurring Atlantic Niño varieties. The first two contrast the timing of dissipation (early terminating vs. persistent) and the other two the timing of onset (early onset vs. late onset). Largely consistent with the differences in the timings of onset and dissipation, these four varieties display remarkable differences in rainfall response over West Africa and South America. Most of the varieties are subject to onset mechanisms that involve preconditioning in boreal spring by either the Atlantic meridional mode or Pacific El Niño, while for the late onset variability there is no clear source of external forcing.Plain Language Summary A phenomenon known as Atlantic Niño is characterized by the appearance of warm sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the eastern equatorial Atlantic in northern summer. When it attains its full strength, it increases rainfall and the frequency of extreme flooding over the West African countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea and in northeastern South America. Atlantic Niño thus has a direct socioeconomic impact in emerging countries in these regions. However, not all Atlantic Niño events are alike. Some appear earlier than others or persists longer. These variabilities during the onset and dissipation phases are well captured by the four most recurring Atlantic Niño varieties identified in this study. Largely consistent with the differences in the timings of onset and dissipation, these four varieties display remarkable differences in rainfall response over West Africa and South America. Most of the varieties are subject to preconditioning in northern spring by cold SSTAs in the North Atlantic or El Niño in the Pacific, except for one variety with no clear source of external forcing.
An ocean circulation forecasting model for the Madeira Archipelago is operational since May 2010. Developing a forecasting system for a small island oceanic region, deprived from in-situ observations, is a challenging task since there are limited ways to validate predictions. Furthermore, model resolution concurrent with insufficient computational power, locally available, are other limiting factors to consider. Regional models combined with the possibility to downscale solutions onto a higher resolution island-scale model is a way to overcome some of such limitations. Nevertheless, generalised regional models must be able to accurately represent the far-field and transport important features such as meddies onto the local systems; while island-scale models must have sufficient grid resolution as well as adequate physics and accurate atmospheric forcing to resolve the near-field phenomena. An island-induced cyclonic eddy event was successfully observed and forecasted with the current approach (regional-local). Generalised single (regional) model initiatives will prove to be insufficient to deal with mesoscale dynamic systems, islands and seamounts are important generators of mesoscale features in the NE Atlantic, with basin scale implications. The forecasting systems of the future should also consider upscaling valid local (island-scale) solutions onto Regional and/or Global models.
Here we explore the water transfer between the subtropical and tropical gyres of the South Atlantic Ocean to better understand its unique equatorward heat delivery. A Lagrangian technique is applied to the reanalysis product GLORYS2V4 in order to trace back the western boundary flow in the tropical (North Brazil Undercurrent, NBUC) and subtropical (Brazil Current) gyres. Most of the northward NBUC core transport (14.9 Sv at 8°S) arrives from the eastern boundary subtropical current (Benguela Current) via the zonal South Equatorial Current. This subtropical‐tropical transfer represents the core of the returning limb of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and accounts for most of the observed increase in heat and salt‐volume transports (0.18 PW and 0.19 Sv from 30°S to 8°S, respectively) across the South Atlantic. The NBUC also includes Antarctic Intermediate Water below 400 m (7.4 Sv at 8°S) coming from the interior subtropical gyre, as well as water from the current's surface and peripheral components coming from the tropical gyre (13.3 Sv at 8°S). The Brazil Current (9.9 Sv at 29°S) is mostly composed of subtropical water originating in the upper 800 m west of the eastern boundary current at 30°S (8.5 Sv), with a minor contribution of surface tropical water that transfers to the subtropics (1.4 Sv).
The cross-equatorial northward flow in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean is carried mainly by western boundary currents flowing at surface and intermediate levels: the North Brazil Current (NBC) and the North Brazil Undercurrent (NBUC), transporting from salty thermocline South Atlantic Central Waters to low-salinity Antarctic Intermediate Waters (AAIW;
Ocean frontal systems may act both as barriers and mixers between different water masses, the latter thanks to very energetic structures with relatively short temporal and spatial scales. Here, we explore the high‐frequency temperature variability in the Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence through the joint analysis of novel high‐resolution SeaSoar measurements and sea surface temperature imagery. Surface spatiotemporal correlation scales range between 1.5 and 6 days and between 20 and 50 km, with the shortest scales along the shelf‐break path of the Brazil Current and over the confluence and the longest ones along the Malvinas Current. The spatial scales display minima along the front, at the surface because of the presence of brackish shelf waters and at the subsurface due to both mesoscale and submesoscale thermohaline intrusions. The smallest cross‐frontal vertical correlations, in the 5‐ to 10‐m range, are associated with submesoscale processes. Overall, temperature variability is enhanced at depth in the frontal system.
The impact of tropical Atlantic Ocean variability modes in the variability of the upper-ocean circulation has been investigated. For this purpose, we use three oceanic reanalyses, an interannual forced-ocean simulation, and satellite data for the period 1982–2018. We have explored the changes in the main surface and subsurface ocean currents during the emergence of Atlantic meridional mode (AMM), Atlantic zonal mode (AZM), and AMM–AZM connection. The developing phase of the AMM is associated with a boreal spring intensification of North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) and a reinforced summer Eastern Equatorial Undercurrent (EEUC) and north South Equatorial Current (nSEC). During the decaying phase, the reduction of the wind forcing and zonal sea surface height gradient produces a weakening of surface circulation. For the connected AMM–AZM, in addition to the intensified NECC, EEUC, and nSEC in spring, an anomalous north-equatorial wind curl excites an oceanic Rossby wave (RW) that is boundary-reflected into an equatorial Kelvin wave (KW). The KW reverses the thermocline slope, weakening the nSEC and EUC in boreal summer and autumn, respectively. During the developing spring phase of the AZM, the nSEC is considerably reduced with no consistent impact at subsurface levels. During the autumn decaying phase, the upwelling RW-reflected mechanism is activated, modifying the zonal pressure gradient that intensifies the nSEC. The NECC is reduced in boreal spring–summer. Our results reveal a robust alteration of the upper-ocean circulation during AMM, AZM, and AMM–AZM, highlighting the decisive role of ocean waves in connecting the tropical and equatorial ocean transport.
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