The Development of Thermal Anomalies in a Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Model

Abstract

A simplified but nonlinear model of large-scale air?sea interaction is formulated which involves the interaction between a finite-amplitude cyclone wave, the large-scale atmospheric temperature field, and sea?surface temperatures. The system interacts through a simplified model of air?sea heat exchange and consequent alterations of wind-driven advection of the sea?surface temperature field. It is shown that in cases when there is a large heat release to the atmosphere and long-term storage of heat in the mixed layer that small ?seed? anomalies can grow by a finite-amplitude feedback instability.