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Evidence for zonally-trapped propagating waves in the eastern atlantic from satellite sea surface temperature observations

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Abstract

It has been hypothesized (Moore et al., 1978; O'Brien et al., 1978), that equatorial upwelling and subsequent coastal upwelling on the eastern boundary of the Atlantic Ocean are the result of eastward propagating equatorially trapped Kelvin waves in the Atlantic. Concurrent satellite and ship sea surface temperature observations taken during the GATE experiment permit validation of the satellite data as well as relating sea surface temperature (SST) variability to the local current dynamics. A method based on cross-correlations and cross-spectra of the SST field at various locations is utilized to test the Kelvin wave hypothesis. Significant periodic variation of time lags in the SST variability in the eastern Atlantic is observed by the spectral techniques. Satellite data for the 1974 summer show periodic variability which fits either eastward or westward propagating waves with 1 m s-1 phase speed, i.e., SST supports the quasi-continuous presence of Kelvin or Yanai waves. We find no evidence for a seasonally solitary eastward propagating signal in the eastern Atlantic from SST.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Florida, USA

    Otis B. Brown & Robert H. Evans

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  1. Otis B. Brown
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  2. Robert H. Evans
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Brown, O.B., Evans, R.H. Evidence for zonally-trapped propagating waves in the eastern atlantic from satellite sea surface temperature observations. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 18, 145–157 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121321

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