P7.4
Low Frequency Modes of Tropical Ocean Dynamics
Fei-Fei Jin, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Basin-wide very low-frequency (VLF) free modes with zonal uniformly deepening and shoaling of the equatorial thermocline are found as solutions of linear shallow-water equations with the meridional basin boundaries under equatorial beta-plane. They can be understood as the free heat-content recharge oscillations. The interannual VLF modes are the essential part of the coupled recharge oscillator for the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The decadal VLF modes may also be transformed into coupled modes relevant to the Pacific decadal climate variability through the ocean-atmosphere interaction in the tropics and subtropics.
Poster Session 7, Large-scale dynamics of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system (Reception/Cash Bar)
Thursday, 7 June 2001, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM
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