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Intraseasonal modulation of sea surface temperatures in the Tropical North Atlantic by African Easterly Waves
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DOI：10.5194/os-22-1745-2026.png)
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Abstract
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Abstract. The sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the Tropical North Atlantic (TNA) plays a crucial role in the regional climate by modulating the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and influencing precipitation; convective systems; and tropical cyclones. While atmospheric synoptic-scale intraseasonal variability in this region is dominated by African Easterly Waves (AEWs); their impact on SST remains poorly understood. This study investigates the modulation of SST by AEWs using a regional configuration of a coupled ocean-atmosphere model and moored surface buoy air-sea observations. The results reveal a significant AEWs signature in SST anomalies; with typical temperature fluctuations of approximately ±0.3 °C (reaching up to ±0.5 °C for the strongest events). A heat budget analysis shows that AEWs mainly influence SST through modulation of the latent heat flux; shortwave radiation; and vertical mixing. The contribution of ocean mixing and that of the air-sea fluxes appear to be of similar order. The dominant 3–5 d AEWs exhibit a stronger impact than their 6–9 d counterparts. These findings highlight the role of AEWs in driving SST variability and mixed-layer dynamics; underscore the importance of accurately representing them in coupled climate models; and call for further investigation into their influence on the mean and seasonal upper-ocean state.
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