@article{fdi:010053744,
  title = {{S}ahel rainfall and decadal to multi-decadal sea surface temperature variability},
  author = {{M}ohino, {E}. and {J}anicot, {S}erge and {B}ader, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}ecadal {S}ahelian rainfall variability was mainly driven by sea surface temperatures ({SST}s) during the twentieth century. {A}t the same time {SST}s showed a marked long-term global warming ({GW}) trend. {S}uperimposed on this long-term trend decadal and multi-decadal variability patterns are observed like the {A}tlantic {M}ultidecadal {O}scillation ({AMO}) and the inter-decadal {P}acific {O}scillation ({IPO}). {U}sing an atmospheric general circulation model we investigate the relative contribution of each component to the {S}ahelian precipitation variability. {T}o take into account the uncertainty related to the use of different {SST} data sets, we perform the experiments using {H}ad{ISST}1 and {ERSST}v3 reconstructed sets. {T}he simulations show that all three {SST} signals have a significant impact over {W}est {A}frica: the positive phases of the {GW} and the {IPO} lead to drought over the {S}ahel, while a positive {AMO} enhances {S}ahel rainfall. {T}he tropical {SST} warming is the main cause for the {GW} impact on {S}ahel rainfall. {R}egarding the {AMO}, the pattern of anomalous precipitation is established by the {SST}s in the {A}tlantic and {M}editerranean basins. {I}n turn, the tropical {SST} anomalies control the impact of the {IPO} component on {W}est {A}frica. {O}ur results suggest that the low-frequency evolution of {S}ahel rainfall can be interpreted as the competition of three factors: the effect of the {GW}, the {AMO} and the {IPO}. {F}ollowing this interpretation, our results show that 50% of the {SST}-driven {S}ahel drought in the 1980s is explained by the change to a negative phase of the {AMO}, and that the {GW} contribution was 10%. {I}n addition, the partial recovery of {S}ahel rainfall in recent years was mainly driven by the {AMO}.},
  keywords = {{D}ecadal variability ; {S}ea surface temperatures ; {W}est {A}frican {M}onsoon ; {A}tmospheric general circulation models},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}limate {D}ynamics},
  volume = {37},
  numero = {3-4},
  pages = {419--440},
  ISSN = {0930-7575},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00382-010-0867-2},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053744},
}