Thermodynamic Feedbacks in Tropical Coupled Variability

Abstract
Air-sea coupling involves the exchange of both momentum and heat between the atmosphere and the ocean. Dynamic coupling, which relates to the momentum exchange, is believed to play the dominant role in the tropics, especially in phenomena such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation in the tropical Pacific. However, thermodynamic heat exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean can also play a significant role in air-sea coupling. This is especially true in the tropical Atlantic, where dynamic coupling may be of secondary importance. This talk will focus on the use of mechanistic models to study the role of thermodynamic air-sea coupling in the tropics.

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