De l'influence des courants océaniques sur les fluctuations du climat de grandes régions

The influence of ocean circulation on climate variability

LODYC, Université Paris VI, 4, pl. Jussieu, 75005 Paris

Abstract

Ocean currents are partly responsible for the sea surface temperature (SST) distribution and its variabiliry, thus influencing climate. We will briefly comment some of its most remarkable features. First, in the central equatorial Pacific, where fluctuating zonal currents strongly modulate the zonal extension of the western Pacific warm poll, therefore how El Niño events evolve. Then we will comment SST variabiliry in the western tropical Atlantic, before discussing the observed propagation of SST features in the north Atlantic on multi-annual time scales, as well as the displacements of currents, in first place, of the Gulf Stream. Finally, we will comment possible changes in the meridional circulation of the North Atlantic as a result of greenhouse gases induced climate change.