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Oceanic conditions in the tropical Atlantic during 1983 and 1984

Oceanic conditions in the tropical Atlantic during 1983 and 1984 During 1983 and 1984 oceanographers from France and the USA conducted an extensive field programme in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The principal goal was to document the annual cycle, but unexpectedly a difference was observed between the two years. We describe here the observed variations in the thermal field and in the zonal currents along several meridians. In early 1984, the upper ocean especially on the eastern side of the ocean basin was substantially warmer than during the corresponding period a year earlier. Most of this change in the heat content was the result of a deeper thermocline. During this time an unusual eastward surface current appeared to the south of the Equator undoubtedly contributing to large zonal heat fluxes. The decrease in the surface winds1 between 1983 and 1984 is presumably responsible for these changes. Inspection of the few available long records reveals that in the Atlantic warm events such as that of 1984 are rare and that the previous event with comparable amplitude occurred in 1963. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Springer Journals

Oceanic conditions in the tropical Atlantic during 1983 and 1984

Hisard, P.; Henin, C.; Houghton, R.; Piton, B.; Rual, P.
Nature , Volume 322 (6076) – Jul 17, 1986
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References (10)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 by Nature Publishing Group
Subject
Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, multidisciplinary
ISSN
0028-0836
eISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/322243a0
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

During 1983 and 1984 oceanographers from France and the USA conducted an extensive field programme in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The principal goal was to document the annual cycle, but unexpectedly a difference was observed between the two years. We describe here the observed variations in the thermal field and in the zonal currents along several meridians. In early 1984, the upper ocean especially on the eastern side of the ocean basin was substantially warmer than during the corresponding period a year earlier. Most of this change in the heat content was the result of a deeper thermocline. During this time an unusual eastward surface current appeared to the south of the Equator undoubtedly contributing to large zonal heat fluxes. The decrease in the surface winds1 between 1983 and 1984 is presumably responsible for these changes. Inspection of the few available long records reveals that in the Atlantic warm events such as that of 1984 are rare and that the previous event with comparable amplitude occurred in 1963.

Journal

Nature – Springer Journals

Published: Jul 17, 1986

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