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| Titel |
The tropical Atlantic surface wind divergence belt and its effect on clouds |
| VerfasserIn |
Y. Tubul, I. Koren, O. Altaratz |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
2190-4979
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Earth System Dynamics ; 6, no. 2 ; Nr. 6, no. 2 (2015-12-14), S.781-788 |
| Datensatznummer |
250115490
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/esd-6-781-2015.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| A well-defined surface wind divergence (SWD) belt with distinct cloud
properties forms over the equatorial Atlantic during the boreal summer
months. This belt separates the deep convective clouds of the Intertropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ) from the shallow marine stratocumulus cloud decks
forming over the cold-water subtropical region of the southern branch of the
Hadley cell in the Atlantic. Using the QuikSCAT-SeaWinds and Aqua-MODIS
instruments, we examined the large-scale spatiotemporal variability in the
SWD belt during a 6-year period (2003–2008) and the related links to cloud
properties over the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic SWD belt was found to be
most pronounced from May to August, between the Equator and 2° N
latitude. A positive correlation and a strong link were observed between
formation of the SWD belt and a sharp sea-surface temperature gradient on the
northern border of the cold tongue, supporting Wallace's vertical-mixing
mechanism. The dominant cloud type over this region was shallow cumulus.
Cloud properties were shown to be strongly linked to the formation and
strength of the SWD zone. The findings will help to understand the link
between ocean–atmosphere dynamics and cloud properties over this region, and
suggest that the SWD zone be considered a unique cloud belt of the southern
branch of the Atlantic Hadley cell. |
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