Development of warm SST errors in the southern tropical Atlantic in CMIP5 decadal hindcasts

作者：Toniazzo Thomas^*; Woolnough Steve

来源：Climate Dynamics, 2014, 43(11): 2889-2913.

DOI：10.1007/s00382-013-1691-2

• General-circulation models
• Model systematic biases
• Ocean-atmosphere coupling
• Tropical Atlantic
• Tropical circulation
• Coastal upwelling systems
• Seasonal and decadal prediction

SST errors in the tropical Atlantic are large and systematic in current coupled general-circulation models. We analyse the growth of these errors in the region of the south-eastern tropical Atlantic in initialised decadal hindcasts integrations for three of the models participating in the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project 5. A variety of causes for the initial bias development are identified, but a crucial involvement is found, in all cases considered, of ocean-atmosphere coupling for their maintenance. These involve an oceanic %26quot;bridge%26apos;%26apos; between the Equator and the Benguela-Angola coastal seas which communicates subsurface ocean anomalies and constitutes a coupling between SSTs in the south-eastern tropical Atlantic and the winds over the Equator. The resulting coupling between SSTs, winds and precipitation represents a positive feedback for warm SST errors in the south-eastern tropical Atlantic.

• 出版日期2014-12