Respuesta del Atlántico tropical norte a ENSO: influencia de la resolución espacial de los modelos

Abstract

Although the ENSO teleconnection with the tropical North Atlantic (TNA) sea surface temperatures (SSTs) is one of the most robust ENSO teleconnections, the processes behind the genesis of the initial SST anomalies over the eastern TNA are not completely understood. This study points to the coastal upwelling off northwest Africa as a major contribution of these initial ENSO-related SST anomalies. This role of the upwelling is, however, reproduced differently in ocean–atmosphere coupled models with different spatial resolutions. As a consequence, the choice of a model significantly affects the scope and predictability of the ENSO impact on the TNA. This novel result should be taken into account in future analyses before making categorical statements regarding this teleconnection.