The Annual Cycle of Sea Level in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Abstract

The long period response of sea level on the eastern boundary of the Pacific separates, for linear dynamics, into a remotely forced part mainly due to zonal winds along the equator to the west and a locally driven part where sea level slopes to balance the alongshore wind. Examination of the annual component of sea level on the eastern boundary indicates that the locally forced part dominates, whereas the remotely forced part plays a major role at semiannual and interannual periods.