@article{fdi:010081085,
  title = {{I}nfluence of ocean salinity stratification on the tropical {A}tlantic {O}cean surface},
  author = {{G}{\'e}vaudan, {M}. and {J}ouanno, {J}ulien and {D}urand, {F}abien and {M}orvan, {G}uillaume and {R}enault, {L}ionel and {S}amson, {G}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he tropical {A}tlantic {O}cean receives an important freshwater supply from river runoff and from precipitation in the intertropical convergence zone. {I}t results in a strong salinity stratification that may influence vertical mixing, and thus sea surface temperature ({SST}) and air-sea fluxes. {T}he aim of this study is to assess the impact of salinity stratification on the tropical {A}tlantic surface variables. {T}his is achieved through comparison among regional 1/4 degrees coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations for which the contribution of salinity stratification in the vertical mixing scheme is included or discarded. {T}he analysis reveals that the strong salinity stratification in the northwestern tropical {A}tlantic induces a significant increase of {SST} (0.2 degrees {C}-0.5 degrees {C}) and rainfall (+ 19%) in summer, hereby intensifying the ocean-atmosphere water cycle, despite a negative atmospheric feedback. {I}ndeed, the atmosphere dampens the oceanic response through an increase in latent heat loss and a reduction of shortwave radiation reaching the ocean surface. {I}n winter, the impacts of salinity stratification are much weaker, most probably because of a deeper mixed layer at this time. {I}n the equatorial region, we found that salinity stratification induces a year-round shoaling of the thermocline, reinforcing the cold tongue cool anomaly in summer. {T}he concept of barrier layer has not been identified as relevant to explain the {SST} response to salinity stratification in our region of interest.},
  keywords = {{O}cean vertical mixing ; {A}ir-sea coupling ; {R}egional modeling ; {M}ixed layer ; heat budget ; {A}tlantic cold tongue ; {B}arrier layer ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}limate {D}ynamics},
  volume = {57},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {321--340},
  ISSN = {0930-7575},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00382-021-05713-z},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010081085},
}