@article{fdi:010043437,
  title = {{D}ecadal variations and trends in tropical {P}acific sea surface salinity since 1970 - art. no. {C}03012},
  author = {{D}elcroix, {T}hierry and {C}ravatte, {S}ophie and {M}c{P}haden, {M}. {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he dominant mode of variability in the tropical {P}acific is the interannual {E}l {N}ino-{S}outhern {O}scillation phenomenon. {M}ore subtle variations are also evident on decadal timescales reminiscent of the {P}acific {D}ecadal {O}scillation ({PDO}). {T}hese variations are superimposed on trends that are possibly linked to global climate change. {A} major impediment for assessing this decadal and longer timescale variability is the shortness of instrumental records. {N}ear-surface salinity has not yet been systematically analyzed for this reason. {T}his article documents and interprets 1970-2003 observed tropical {P}acific sea surface salinity ({SSS}) changes. {G}iven the time/space {SSS} data availability, the analysis focuses on changes in three key regions, the western {P}acific {W}arm {P}ool ({WP}), the {S}outh {P}acific {C}onvergence {Z}one ({SPCZ}), and the {E}quatorial {C}old {T}ongue ({ECT}). {A} {PDO}-like signal shows up in these three regions, with some shifts in {SSS} appearing around the mid-1970s, mid-1990s, and to a lesser extent in 1989-1990. {I}n addition, a clear freshening trend of the order of 0.1 to 0.3 psu per 30 years appears in the {WP}, {SPCZ}, and {ECT}, together with an extension of the low-salinity water surface in the {WP} and {SPCZ}. {O}n the basis of available precipitation ({P}) and evaporation ({E}) products, and on a survey of the published literature, the {PDO}-like {SSS} changes are found to be qualitatively consistent with {P} and {E} and/or horizontal and vertical salt advection in the {WP} and the {SPCZ}. {T}he repercussions and unsolved issues regarding the {SSS} decadal changes and freshening trends are discussed.},
  keywords = {{PACIFIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eophysical {R}esearch {O}ceans},
  volume = {112},
  numero = {{C}3},
  pages = {{NIL}_55--{NIL}_69},
  ISSN = {0148-0227},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1029/2006{JC}003801},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010043437},
}