Changes of the North Atlantic sea surface temperature related to the atmospheric circulation in the period 1973 to 1992

Abstract

Between 1973 and 1992 the sea surface temperature (SST) of both the subtropical and the eastern Atlantic has increased by 0.5 to 1 K while other regions, mainly the northwestern Atlantic, show a decrease up to 1 K. This results in changes of the meridional and zonal gradient of the North Atlantic SST. At the surface as well as at 500 hPa a significant intensification of the Icelandic low and a strengthening of the frontal zone over the northern Atlantic Ocean correspond to the changes of SST and thus to the air temperature near the surface.

Keywords

• subtropical atlantic
• eastern atlantic
• meeresoberflächentemperatur