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contributor authorHormann, Verena
contributor authorLumpkin, Rick
contributor authorPerez, Renellys C.
date accessioned2017-06-09T17:24:53Z
date available2017-06-09T17:24:53Z
date copyright2013/08/01
date issued2013
identifier issn0739-0572
identifier otherams-84795.pdf
identifier urihttp://onlinelibrary.yabesh.ir/handle/yetl/4228170
description abstractgeneralized method is developed to determine the position of the Atlantic northern cold tongue front across its zonal extent from satellite sea surface temperature (SST) data. Previous approaches estimated the frontal position subjectively or individually, calling for a more objective technique that is suitable for large datasets. The developed methodology is based on a median frontal SST, and associated positional uncertainties are on the order of 0.3° latitude for the period 1998?2011. Frontal characteristics are generally consistent with tropical instability waves (TIWs) and interannual variations are large. Application to drifter observations shows how the new methodology can be used to better understand circulation features near the northern cold tongue front. A drifter pair deployed on the eastern side of a passing TIW crest north of the front revealed that the trajectories of the drifters were clearly influenced by the shape of the front and they did not cross the front, but rather stayed close together about 2.5° north of the front. In a more complete analysis using all available drifters near the Atlantic northern cold tongue front, only about 12% of the trajectories crossed the front. Analyses in an along- and cross-frontal frame of reference complement isopycnal coordinate mapping, and tropical Atlantic drifter velocities averaged in frontal coordinates indicate a broadened shear zone between the northern branch of the South Equatorial Current and North Equatorial Countercurrent as well as meridional convergence near the front.
publisherAmerican Meteorological Society
titleA Generalized Method for Estimating the Structure of the Equatorial Atlantic Cold Tongue: Application to Drifter Observations
typeJournal Paper
journal volume30
journal issue8
journal titleJournal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
identifier doi10.1175/JTECH-D-12-00173.1
journal fristpage1884
journal lastpage1895
treeJournal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology:;2013:;volume( 030 ):;issue: 008
contenttypeFulltext


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