Spatiotemporally unified air-sea interaction in tropical oceans

Abstract

The spatiotemporal variation in tropical air-sea interaction is investigated by applying a simple model that considers the fundamental dynamics in tropical oceans. The model decomposes sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) variation into a series of spatial modes that oscillates with their natural frequencies. The results suggest that the first mode associates with the dipole-like SSTA variation between the western and the eastern coast, such as EP El Ni\~no, the Atlantic Ni\~no, and IOD; whereas the second mode associates with the tripole-like SSTA pattern among the central and eastern, western coast, such as CP El Ni\~no and minor SSTA variations in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Each mode oscillates with its natural frequency that depends on the strength of air-sea coupling and the basin size. The model provides a systematic framework for the comprehensive understanding of the complex air-sea interaction in tropical oceans.