Investigating Extratropical Influence on the Equatorial Atlantic Zonal Bias with Regional Data Assimilation

A reversal of zonal sea surface temperature (SST) gradient in the equatorial Atlantic is a common bias in climate models. Studies to investigate the origin of this bias mainly focused on the tropics itself. Applying the regional data assimilation method in the GFDL CM2.1 model, we investigate the combined and respective influences of the northern and southern extratropics on this bias. It is found that the reversed zonal SST gradient bias is caused to a considerable extent by the extratropical atmosphere, especially by the northern extratropics. This extratropical impact on the equator occurs mainly through influencing the Hadley circulation. Therefore, the ITCZ position in boreal spring in this model most likely determines the dominant role of northern extratropics in the spring equatorial westerly bias and additionally the zonal SST gradient bias. Due to the cold bias in the extratropical atmosphere, the northward shift of the ITCZ coupled with the increased meridional SST gradient caused by assimilating the northern extratropics strengthens the cross-equatorial southeasterly wind, thus correcting the spring equatorial westerly bias. The strengthened spring equatorial easterlies further steepen the thermocline slope and enhance the eastern upwelling, thus reproducing the summer cold tongue and finally improving the annual-mean zonal SST gradient bias.

Automated summary

Using a climate model and data assimilation method, this study found that the bias of reversed zonal sea surface temperature gradient in the equatorial Atlantic is mainly caused by the extratropical atmosphere, particularly the northern extratropics. The northern extratropics play a dominant role in the spring equatorial westerly bias and the zonal SST gradient bias.