Science · 1996 · 195 citations · 12 references
Natural SciencesEarth SciencesOceanographyAir-sea InteractionAtmospheric SciencePhysical OceanographyAtmosphere-ocean InteractionsOcean-atmosphere CouplingOcean-atmosphere InteractionSea Surface TemperatureSea Surface Temperature VariabilityAir-sea Heat CouplingAir-sea Interaction In The TropicsAtmosphere-ocean CouplingCloud-atmosphere FeedbacksCoupled Ocean-atmosphere InteractionCurrentsDynamic CouplingTropical Ocean-atmosphere Coupling
The ocean currents connecting the western tropical Pacific Ocean with the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are driven by surface winds. The surface winds are in turn driven by the sea-surface temperature (SST) differences between these two regions. This dynamic coupling between the atmosphere and ocean may limit the SST in the tropical Pacific Ocean to below 305 kelvin even in the absence of cloud feedbacks.
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