The regulation of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the tropics has been the subject of much research. There are indications of long term stability in the temperature of the tropics. The large scale circulation in the tropics connects the deep convecting regions to the trade wind regions with low clouds. Each of these regions and the circulation has been studied and found to play a possible role in the regulation of tropical SSTs. Surface evaporation, low clouds and high clouds have all been suggested as physical mechanisms for SST regulation. The sensitivities of the tropical climate are investigated in this study.
The sensitivities of the tropical climate are investigated using a simple model. In this model convection, radiation, atmospheric dynamics and SST interact to determine the climate. A base climate with a circulation like the Walker circulation is found. Sensitivities of this climate to changes in the radiation scheme and the radiative properties of clouds are shown