Ocean Observing and Climate
OVAC Theme 1 - Eastward Propagation Across the North Atlantic
Sea surface temperature (SST) derived from infrared satellite data is used to investigate propagating anomalies in the North Atlantic Ocean. SST anomalies - areas that are cooler or warmer than average - form in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and propagate eastwards across the Atlantic (see figure). They reach the coast of western Europe around four years later. By identifying a regular pattern in these moving anomalies, we may be able to predict SST in the Northeast Atlantic.
The Cape Hatteras region is an important one for the formation of winter storms. Wintertime SSTs in the region of the cape are correlated with the wintertime sea surface temperatures for the North Atlantic, for several time lags. Significant correlations with the Cape Hatteras region are seen in the mid-North Atlantic after lags of 1 and 2 years, and near Iceland after 3 years. After 4 years, the most significant correlations of the sea surface temperature anomalies are once again in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras. The anomalies appear to take approximately 4 years to propagate across the entire North Atlantic.
Links to OVAC Theme 1 Research
North Atlantic Agulhas Current Model Investigations Planetary Waves Observations Planetary Waves Theories
