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Contrasting Tropical Climate Response Pattern to Localized Thermal Forcing Over Different Ocean Basins
Author(s) -
Kang Sarah M.,
Park Kiwoong,
Hwang YenTing,
Hsiao WeiTing
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl080697
Subject(s) - climatology , forcing (mathematics) , tropical cyclone , intertropical convergence zone , oceanic basin , convergence zone , tropical climate , tropical atlantic , extratropical cyclone , tropical savanna climate , sea surface temperature , geology , tropics , tropical cyclogenesis , environmental science , climate model , climate change , structural basin , oceanography , geography , precipitation , meteorology , cyclone (programming language) , ecosystem , ecology , archaeology , biology , paleontology , fishery , field programmable gate array , computer science , computer hardware
We contrast the spatial patterns of tropical climate response to localized thermal forcing over different ocean basins in an atmospheric model coupled to a slab ocean. A localized forcing poleward of the climatological storm tracks produces a tropical climate response pattern that is nearly independent of the forcing location. Regardless of the location of extratropical forcing, a common zonally asymmetric La Niña‐like pattern of sea surface temperature response accompanies a northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. In contrast, a localized tropical forcing produces essentially opposite tropical climate response patterns depending on the forced ocean basin. The northern tropical Pacific (Atlantic) heating induces a warming (cooling) throughout the tropical Pacific, a weakening (strengthening) of the equatorial Pacific trade winds, and a northward (southward) shift of the Southern Pacific Convergence Zone. Our study provides a pathway forward for improving future projections of tropical climate under different anthropogenic forcing scenarios.