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Dynamics and ocean-atmosphere interaction of tropical instability waves and short Rossby waves

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Author(s):
Carine de Godoi Rezende Costa
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Master's Dissertation
Press: São Paulo.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Paulo Simionatto Polito; Marcelo Dottori; Luciano Ponzi Pezzi
Advisor: Paulo Simionatto Polito
Abstract

We hypothesize that rainfall anomalies with 2050 days and 10001500 km on the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) can induce sea surface salinity anomalies. We argue that these precipitation anomalies are remotely caused by Tropical Instability Waves (TIWs) and Short RossbyWaves (SRWs). We have quantified the sea surface temperature influence on atmospheric fields at the TIWs and SRWs spectral bands through regression analysis. In that, wind anomalies are larger over temperature anomalies. Winds tend to accelerate over positive temperature anomalies and slow down over negative anomalies. Changes on water vapor and rainfall occur predominantly on the ITCZ, far from the strongest temperature anomalies near the equator. However, we couldnt address the main hypothesis due to the lack of significant correlation between rainfall and sea surface salinity anomalies. We speculate that this is a consequence of the low quality of the salinity data used in this study. We have identified TIWs as the waves with _21 days and _1000 km and SRWs as the oscillations with _49 days and _1500 km. The identification of the dynamics was made according to equatorial long waves theory based on a linear, quasi-geostrophic, 1.5 layers, inviscid ocean model. Sea surface height anomalies could only reveal SRWs. Sea surface temperature anomalies show both type of waves, with TIWs dominating within 6_ from the equator. Our main contribution was to show that TIWs and SRWs coexist, can be isolated and change wind field through similar mechanisms. We do not know any other study that linked theoretical identification of dynamically different oceanic waves to the atmospheric variability in a quantitative fashion (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/03720-9 - Analysis of ocean response to intertropical convergence zone variations due to tropical instability waves and/or short Rossby waves
Grantee:Carine de Godoi Rezende Costa
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master