@article{fdi:010057932,
  title = {{A}nalysis of the dominant mode of convectively coupled {K}elvin waves in the {W}est {A}frican monsoon},
  author = {{M}ounier, {F}. and {K}iladis, {G}.{N}. and {J}anicot, {S}erge},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he dominant mode of convectively coupled {K}elvin waves has been detected over the {A}tlantic and {A}frica during northern summer by performing composite analyses on observational fields based on an {EOF} reconstructed convection index over {W}est {A}frica. {P}ropagating eastward, many waves originate from the {P}acific sector, interact with deep convection of the marine {ITCZ} over the {A}tlantic and the continental {ITCZ} over {W}est and central {A}frica, and then weaken over {E}ast {A}frica and the {I}ndian {O}cean. {I}t has been shown that they are able to modulate the life cycle and track of individual westward- propagating convective systems. {T}heir mean kinematic characteristics comprise a wavelength of 8000 km, and a phase speed of 15 m s(-1), leading to a period centered on 6 to 7 days. {T}he {A}frican {K}elvin wave activity displays large seasonal variability, being highest outside of northern summer when the {ITCZ} is close to the equator, facilitating the interactions between convection and these equatorially trapped waves. {T}he convective and dynamical patterns identified over the {A}tlantic and {A}frica show some resemblance to the theoretical equatorially trapped {K}elvin wave solution on an equatorial beta plane. {M}ost of the flow is in the zonal direction as predicted by theory, and there is a tendency for the dynamical fields to be symmetric about the equator, even though the {ITCZ} is concentrated well north of the equator at the full development of the {A}frican monsoon. {I}n the upper troposphere and the stratosphere, the temperature contours slope sharply eastward with height, as expected from an eastward- moving heat source that forces a dry {K}elvin wave response. {I}t is finally shown that the mean impact of {A}frican {K}elvin waves on rainfall and convection is of the same level as {A}frican easterly waves.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {C}limate},
  volume = {20},
  numero = {8},
  pages = {1487--1503},
  ISSN = {0894-8755},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1175/{JCLI}4059.1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057932},
}