A Synoptic Model for African Easterly Waves

We present a synthesis of our recent work on the dynamics of African Easterly Waves. We suggest that the spatial instability of the localized African easterly jet due to upstream energy dispersion is a possible mechanism for generation and maintenance of these waves. We also treat the effects of moist convection in destabilizing the waves and highlight the transformation of the waves as they move from a region of relatively strong temperature gradients (over land) to weak temperature gradients (over ocean).