Modelling the Ocean Circulation and its Interaction with the Atmosphere

Abstract

The best documented example of natural climate variability occurs mainly in the tropical Pacific every few years. It involves oceanic and atmospheric interactions, and although centred in the Pacific, influences climate over extensive areas of the globe ranging from the Asian monsoon and the Sahel in the west to Equador and Peru in the east. In the past few years model experiments have been performed to elucidate its origins and to predict its occurrence. It is hoped that the experience from these model experiments can be extended to other climate variations such as might result from increasing concentrations of radiatively active gases.